22nd March 2022
“Someone Like Me” is an exciting three-year project designed to enable people with disabilities to fulfil their potential as volunteers, harnessing the unique contribution that they can bring to outdoor adventure activities.
This exciting project by Cumbria based charity, Bendrigg Trust, has been generously supported with a £10,000 grant from Cumbria Community Foundation through a number of their Trust funds including Holehird Trust.
Annalee Holliday, Senior Grants, Programmes & Communications Officer Cumbria Community Foundation said:“Bendrigg Trust do a wonderful job helping people with disabilities reach their full potential. Like many organisations in the voluntary sector, Bendrigg Trust is playing an important role helping people connect in their local community. We are very thankful to our fundholders for their generosity in funding this new initiative that we believe can play a big part in making life better for people with disabilities in our area.”
Traditionally, Bendrigg has drawn on the skills and commitment of the local Cumbrian community to offer an exemplary and inclusive approach to volunteering. However, there remains in society today a lack of recognition for the contribution that people with disabilities can bring to volunteering, as noted by the Olympic/Paralympic movement: “people with disabilities are often the recipients of volunteer services but are rarely considered as a potential volunteer resource”.
The “Someone like Me Project” aims to support 40 people each year who have disabilities/additional support needs to participate as volunteers at Bendrigg, in turn enabling 3,000+ others to access the charity’s services. Volunteers will be involved in a wide range of activities from delivery of Bendrigg’s accessible activity breaks; grounds maintenance/environmental projects; marketing/fundraising; office administration; to catering/hospitality roles.
Nick Liley, Bendrigg Principal said:”We are immensely grateful to Cumbria Community Foundation for its invaluable support for Bendrigg Trust’s pioneering volunteering programme. The work of the Foundation and the generosity of the Trusts involved (in particular, The Roselands Trust, The Edmond Castle Educational Trust, The Catherine Alexander Grassroots Fund and The Holehird Trust Fund) are truly inspiring and offer our new project, “Someone like Me”, strong foundations from which to grow. The project will provide opportunities for many more people with disabilities in our local communities to volunteer in the great outdoors which is tremendous news. Our sincere thanks to all involved in supporting this important venture.”
If you’d like to apply to volunteer at Bendrigg Trust can do so on their website here: https://www.bendrigg.org.uk/support-us/volunteer/ where there is also more information about the volunteering opportunities available.