Learning difficulties initiative in funding crisis (From The Northern Echo)

Learning difficulties initiative in funding crisis

3:27pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in York & Harrogate News By Emily Flanagan, Reporter

A PROJECT which provides important social activities for people with learning difficulties could face closure unless extra funding is found.

Breathing Spaces provides activities and evening classes for adults with learning difficulties in North Yorkshire and at the same time offers respite for their families.

About 150 adults from Richmondshire, Hambleton and the Stokesley and Easingwold areas use the project. But there are now fears the project is in jeopardy as it stands to lose a major part of its funding.

Although the project will continue to receive about £18,000 from North Yorkshire County Council next year, it's five year grant from the Big Lottery Fund, worth £30,000, will come to an end in March. Project manager Claudia Clarkson said the group and its members had managed to raise nearly £6,000 themselves this year, but they urgently need help with further fund-raising if Breathing Spaces is to avoid closure.

Mrs Clarkson said: “We were set up initially because the adults were coming home and seeing their brothers and sisters going out and they were left sat at home. It just isn’t safe for some of them to go out, they’re too vulnerable.

“Breathing Spaces progressed from there. We provide them with social and leisure opportunities - the users tell us what they would like to do.

“We recently did a survey of our members to see what they thought of the project and to see if they could find alternative activities if we closed. But members and their carers let us know just how important this project was to them. Many of them said it was a life-line.”

The Northallerton-based project is affiliated with Mencap and was recently presented with a Duke of York Community Initiative Award for showing enterprise in the community. The group provides adults with regular trips to local facilities such as swimming pools and the cinema and also takes its members on outings. Recently they have watched an ice-hockey game and watched what was thought to be Darlington Football Club’s last game.

The organisers are also trying to set up evening classes on computer skills and life skills at the request of its members.

Breathing Spaces is looking for fund-raisers of all kinds, particularly those with experience of writing funding applications, and also a new treasurer.

Anyone who can help should contact Claudia on 01609-779420 or email breathing.space@btconnect.com