Care Project gains grant

A project set up to support adults with learning difficulties will receive £15,000 from Nottinghamshire County Council.

Southwell Care Project helps adults with learning difficulties live independently in the community where possible, offers practical courses to support them and counselling and advice for their family and carers.

The project, on Westgate, Southwell, was set up in 1999 by a group of parents who were concerned about what would happen to their children when they were no longer around to care for them.

Southwell Care Project’s manager Mr Steve Shatwell said the project had received grants from the county council for a number of years.

He said: “The latest successful bid to them will help towards our core costs for the next three years.

“We are grateful for the sustained support from the county and I am sure it reflects the importance of our work to support adults with learning disabilities within our community.

“The grant covers about 25% of our core costs, the remainder we must find from our own fundraising efforts and the generosity of donors.”

Mr Shatwell said the money helped the care project to provide classes in areas such as performing arts, money handling and IT, as well as with social activities such as bowling and residential trips.

He said: “Such is the demand for our service that we are looking to set up a second base within Newark to help clients who may have issues with transport to Southwell.

“We provide a wide range of recreational and academic opportunities for our clients, at little or no financial cost to them.”

Nottinghamshire County Council has given £115,900 to eight projects that aim to help adults live independently.

The Southwell Live At Home Scheme, which offers support to elderly people who may have become isolated from friends and neighbours due to ill health or problems getting out, also received £15,000.

Anyone interested in volunteering or raising money for Southwell Care Project should contact Mr Shatwell on 01636 819066.