A Ceredigion-based charity that provides vital support to adults and young people with learning difficulties has been awarded a £1,500 grant to help it continue its services during the pandemic.
Mencap Ceredigion received the funding after its local MP, Ben Lake, nominated it for a cash award from Western Power Distribution’s (WPD’s) ‘In This Together – Community Matters Fund’.
The fund was established by the local electricity distributor at the start of lockdown to support grass root organisations in delivering care to vulnerable people and families. It initially supported over 300 organisations with £500,000 funding. As the lockdown lifted, WPD extended its support by a further £250,000 and offered MPs the opportunity to put forward a community group or charity for a grant to help towards its work during these challenging times.
Ben Lake MP said: “I’ve worked alongside Mencap Ceredigion for a number of years and they are a inspiring charity that does incredible work locally. I decided to nominate them for Western Power Distribution’s In This Together – Community Matters Fund as they have continued to work tirelessly during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite facing many challenges along the way. They are a great organisation and have consistently provided a strong voice for individuals with learning disabilities in Ceredigion. I hope the £1,500 grant will go some way towards supporting Mencap Ceredigion’s services across the county.”
Mencap Ceredigion Chairman, Mr Alun Evans said: "We are honoured to have been chosen to receive this grant from Western Power and delighted to have been nominated by our MP Mr Ben Lake. He has been a big supporter of our work and a good friend to our members. Our Branch is run by volunteers who, despite the closure of our clubs and activities, have been busy running social media events and by keeping in contact with members, especially those living on their own and without much support. This substantial sum will be very welcome at a time when normal fund raising is impossible due to the restrictions the virus has put on us. The money will be going towards a newsletter and a much needed printer."
Alison Sleightholm, WPD’s Resources & External Affairs Director, said: “Throughout this crisis we have worked tirelessly to support our local communities and keep the energy flowing to our 7.9 million customers. The crisis is far from over and as we enter the next phase of the UK’s response to the pandemic, we’re delighted that 92 MPs in our regions have nominated deserving causes for up to £1,500 of funding.
“We’re proud that, so far, we have been able to fund over 450 charities and groups within our area. Through the extension of our fund and with the fantastic support of our MPs, we’re able to support even more organisations doing valuable community work.”