Charity Grant To Help Disabled Learn Life Skills

A nationally and internationally-renowned charity is set to help even more children with disabilities access life changing educational opportunities through an exciting new training venture.

Megan Baker House, in Leominster, Hertfordshire, delivers rehabilitation training for children with physical disabilities associated with cerebral palsy, brain damage and motor disorders, as well as providing training and support for their carers. The centre teaches children and teenagers life skills, encouraging the development of maximum physical independence, cognitive and social skills.

Megan Baker House also provides support to families and carers through advice and information, counselling, advocacy and mediation, referrals, befriending and mentoring. Around 200 children a week access the centre’s services, either on a sessional basis or through outreach or intensive block placements.

The programmes the centre offers are so highly regarded that Megan Baker House has recently won a contract to provide training services to teachers in Brazil.

There are only a handful of similar centres in the country and even though people are prepared to travel from all over the UK, as well as the whole of Herefordshire, to access services on offer at the centre, the capacity of Megan Baker House to train people to help children with disabilities acquire the vital skills that will improve their quality of life is already at its limit.

The charity has recently successfully applied for a grant of £41,000 through the Leominster Market Town Programme, an initiative funded Advantage West Midlands and administered by Herefordshire Council, to offer training to carers, health service staff and teachers from all over the country.

The courses will largely focus on the integration and inclusion of children with disabilities. As well as increasing the numbers of children who will access rehabilitation services, the new training arm will create three new jobs at Megan Baker House and help the charity create a sustainable income stream in the ever competitive third sector market.

The local economy is also set to get a boost as the number of overnight stays in the area increase because of trainees travelling to the centre from around the country.

Jo Baker-Watson, the charity’s director said: “This grant will enable us to deliver training to those working with children with disabilities within educational and social settings, enhancing the inclusive experience. We’ve also been able to create a social enterprise that will help fund the core activity of the charity and so help even more children lead more independent lives and realise their dreams. We’re thrilled that Advantage West Midlands has chosen to support us.”

Henriette Lyttle-Breukelaar, Partnerships Director at Advantage West Midlands said: “Megan Baker House is a unique resource nationally, regionally and locally that has the potential to become an even more significant and unique asset for the town of Leominster. I am delighted that through this grant more children will be helped by its programmes and that at the same time the local economy of Leominster will get a welcome boost.”

Cllr John Stone, Deputy Chair of Herefordshire Council said: “Megan Baker House Charity is a North Herefordshire success story and I am delighted that they have secured Advantage West Midlands funding to further expand their activities. I am pleased the funding will create new jobs and bring further prosperity to the area.”