19th November 2024
A charity supporting people with disabilities in West Cumbria which was at risk of closure has been given a reprieve, thanks to help from funders.
Allerdale Disability Association (ADA) provides vital free support, advice and information on issues ranging from blue badges to benefits for disabled people, their families and carers. In the last financial year, they helped clients claim benefit entitlements of £8.4 million. They have also seen a huge increase in client numbers, with an increase of 43% from the previous year to 1,908 users.
The charity faced closure due to financial challenges but has been thrown a lifeline by Sellafield Ltd, Cumbria Community Foundation and Cumberland Council, who have all agreed to provide emergency funding to keep services running for the next 12 months.
Sellafield Ltd awarded a grant through the Social Impact Multiplied programme for £43,309. Eirini Etoimou, Head of Corporate Sustainability and Supply Chain Development at Sellafield Ltd, said: “Through our Transforming West Cumbria programme, we aim to support third sector organisations that are delivering critical services in our local communities.
“Organisations such as ADA often need more than financial support to plan for a more sustainable future. Along with our strategic partners we will work with ADA to access skilled resource to strengthen their organisation through our volunteering platform Together for Good.”
The Community Foundation awarded a grant of £8,177 from the Brian and Ann Clark Fund, following an application which stated: “We know that the people in our community want our services to continue by the sheer number of people accessing them, and the sheer number of people who have contacted us to say they are devastated by the prospect we may have to close.”
In addition, Cumbria CVS, through the Transforming West Cumbria Bedrock Basics programme, will support the charity in applying to other funders for more longer-term funding to secure their financial sustainability.
Dr Jenny Benson, Director of Programmes & Partnerships at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We know what a crucial service Allerdale Disability Association provides to people in West Cumbria, and what a huge miss it would be if they were no longer there.
“We would encourage any local charity or community group that finds itself in a challenging situation financially to talk at the earliest opportunity directly with funding bodies and organisations who may be able to help.”
Cumberland Council has given the charity a grant of £10,000.
Colin Cox, Director of Public Health and Communities, said: “We have put improving the health and wellbeing of residents at the heart of our ambitions. Working in partnership with organisations like ADA will be crucial in achieving that aim. Therefore, we’re pleased to continue to provide this financial support so that ADA can offer the help and assistance that many people find so valuable.”
The total awarded from the three funders will cover ADA’s running costs for the next 12 months and allows some time to implement improvements over the coming months.
Tracey Parker, Manager at Allerdale Disability Association, said: “We are absolutely over the moon that ADA has been saved for the benefit of our members and clients, and we are excited to work with our strategic partners, to learn from them and develop a plan for the future.