A hundred older carers who look after people with learning disabilities will be given help and support, thanks to a grant of £52,000 to the Reach Learning Disability charity from Nottinghamshire Freemasons. There are more than 15,000 people with learning disabilities in Nottinghamshire, a number expected to rise. They are part of nearly 1.2 million in England alone. Many of them live at home and are looked after by carers who are often in their 70s or 80s. Some who are in their 50s and 60s are having to juggle their caring responsibilities around their work.
Perhaps the single biggest problem for older carers is loneliness, with 68 per cent of adult carers in Nottinghamshire identifying lack of social contact as a major issue. Reach plans to help carers form social networks, with informal drop-in sessions and subsidised massage and reflexology sessions. One-to-one support will be available for those who need it. The grant from Nottinghamshire Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.
Julia Sandhu, Fundraising Director of Reach Learning Disability, said: “We’re very grateful to Nottinghamshire Freemasons for their generous grant, which will allow us to help a hundred older carers, many of whom are in their 70s and 80s. These are people who have dedicated their lives to looking after a family member who can sometimes have multiple health issues. They carry on, many with financial difficulties, often with little or no assistance from anyone else. Reach aims to give them the support they need.”
Family carer Peter Good, said: ‘As Sarah’s dad I don’t always think of myself as a carer. You’re just doing the best you can for your son or daughter from day to day. But getting the right support makes all the difference. Even faced with all the challenges at the moment, you don’t have to be alone. It’s wonderful that Nottinghamshire Freemasons have given Reach a grant to support older carers. This project will help bring people together in new ways and that’s needed more than ever now.’
Philip Marshall, Head of Nottinghamshire Freemasons, said: “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help Reach Learning Disability who do truly outstanding work across the county, supporting people with learning disabilities and those who care for them. These carers are older people who often lead very lonely lives, devoted to looking after a family member and Reach is there for them.”
Reach began life as the Southwell Care Project in 1999 set up by family carers of people with learning disabilities worried about the lack of local support and services in the small market town of Southwell in North Nottinghamshire. Reach now supports 215 people with learning disabilities through our centres in Southwell, Newark and Mansfield including a horticultural social enterprise Flower Pod and our Reach Cafe in Balderton. They also support a further 200 people a year across the county through our outreach courses.
Reach’s vision is of a community where people with learning disabilities can make a good future for themselves, a safe, healthy and happy life filled with purpose, achievement, opportunity and friendship. To accomplish this, Reach brings together the support of extraordinary people in our community and the imagination, skills, commitment, and compassion of our team. They offer courses, activities, and social events facilitated by expert staff to enable clients to learn new skills and contribute to local life.
Reach’s day centres have been closed due to coronavirus since Friday 20th March. The response to the coronavirus outbreak includes providing trained care support workers in people’s homes, practical help with getting provisions and staying safe, help to stay connected through online and telephone support, accessible online learning, and social activities.
For further information about Reach Learning Disability, please contact Julia Sandhu, [email protected] 01636 819066