Charity appeal given helping hand by local Building Society

An appeal to provide new living accommodation for people with learning disabilities in Leicestershire has been given a cash boost by the Melton Building Society.

A cheque for over £5,000 was presented to the Design for Life East Midland Appeal which is run by national learning disability charity, Hft. It aims to raise £2million over the next two years which will be used to provide living accommodation for people with learning disabilities in the local area, together with training, employment and volunteering opportunities.

The Melton raised the money through an online affinity savings account which gives savers an attractive rate of interest and the Society also donates a percentage of the average daily account balance to Design for Life. “In addition, last year staff voted the charity as the Society’s official charity of the year. Staff raised over £300 through collection tins in branches and fundraising activities such as cake baking, bring and buy sales and dress down days,” said Jane Gilhespy, Communications Manager the Melton.

Jacqui Gwilliam, Hft’s Director of Fundraising, said: “We are delighted to have the support of the Melton and welcome their donation towards our Design for Life Appeal. The money raised will help us continue to support people to live the life they choose by providing living accommodation and support which will enable them to live both independently and safely within their local communities.”

Jane Gilhespy, Communications Manager from the Melton presenting a cheque to Richard Clowes, Vice Chair of the Design for Life East Midlands Appeal

Notes to editors

For further information please contact: Suzanne Fry, Public Relations Manager, on 0117 906 1755 or suzanne.fry@hft.org.uk.

For media enquiries, outside of office hours please call 0117 906 1697

About Hft

Hft is a national charity providing local support for people with learning disabilities and their families.

There are around 900,000 adults with a learning disability in England. A learning disability can be mild, moderate or severe and is defined as having a reduced ability to:

• Understand new or complex information
• Learn new skills
• Live independently

Hft and Self Unlimited merged in April 2013. The new merged organisation is known as Hft. It now provides quality support to around 2,500 adults with learning disabilities across the UK in creative, resourceful ways to enable individuals to live the lives they choose.

This merger means that the new, unified, Hft has a stronger voice and a greater reach, creatively helping even more people to get the most out of life.

Hft encourages and supports people to live as independently as they can and to pursue their own interests and social lives. The charity works in partnership with individuals and their families to achieve this.

Hft also works closely with local authorities and other agencies to find the best solutions to meet a person’s needs.

Leaders in personalised technology solutions to support people with learning disabilities, Hft is committed to working to adapt existing technologies and to develop and trial new ones to support people with learning disabilities to live safely and independently.

For more information on Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk