INTRODUCING THE GRACE LITTLE CENTRE - 06/09/2010
During 2009 Carlisle Mencap received a bequest from Grace Little (see Notes for Editors) of £190,000 and the Trustees of the charity decided to use this to start a fundraising campaign to build this much needed facility. The only other residential respite centre for young people with disabilities in Carlisle closed in 2007. The fundraising received a massive boost also in 2010 when Brian Scowcroft of Kingmoor Park Properties Ltd gifted land at Kingmoor Park on which to build the Centre. The total costs for the build are estimated at around £525,000 which means that over £330,000 still needs to be raised and a host of fundraising activities are in hand to help plug the funding gap.
Commenting on the Centre, Sheila Gregory, Chief Executive of Carlisle Mencap said:
“One of the most important ways to help families with profoundly disabled young people is to provide short breaks away from the family home for the young person. The break allows parents to recharge batteries and carry on the often difficult and exhausting role of caring. The break also gives siblings a chance to have attention and time for themselves. Carlisle’s only respite centre closed in 2007 and although there are some options for young people to go to other centres away from Carlisle families have always felt the need to have a local short break facility. Carlisle Mencap have always supported the parents in their request for a local service and I am sure the Carlisle community will support this cause and help us to make it a reality”.
Carlisle Mencap was created by local people with disabled children in 1968. Today the charity has over 150 members and provides services for over 300 people with learning disabilities and their families in North Cumbria. The Trustees of the charity are all local people, 6 have learning difficulties themselves and 7 are parents of profoundly disabled children. Services include residential respite care for adults, supported living, community support, family support workers for young people with autism, holidays, charity shop and work scheme, leisure activities and befriending.
For more information please contact Evlyn Goddard on 01228 674114 or email evlyn.goddard@kingmoorpark.co.uk
Notes for Editors
1 Grace Little was born in Manchester in 1914. She married a Cumbrian, Harold and they farmed near Heads Nook. One of their children, Frank had Downs Syndrome. Tragically, Grace’s other son was killed in a farm accident and after the death of her husband, Grace and Frank retired to Lansdowne Close in Carlisle. Eventually Grace and Frank both went to live in the same nursing home, where Frank sadly died a year before Grace. Grace died aged 94 in January 2009. She was a kind woman who never forgot anyone who helped her. She left the majority of her funds to the cathedral and 4 charities who had helped her and Frank.
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During 2009 Carlisle Mencap received a bequest from Grace Little (see Notes for Editors) of £190,000 and the Trustees of the charity decided to use this to start a fundraising campaign to build this much needed facility. The only other residential respite centre for young people with disabilities in Carlisle closed in 2007. The fundraising received a massive boost also in 2010 when Brian Scowcroft of Kingmoor Park Properties Ltd gifted land at Kingmoor Park on which to build the Centre. The total costs for the build are estimated at around £525,000 which means that over £330,000 still needs to be raised and a host of fundraising activities are in hand to help plug the funding gap.
Commenting on the Centre, Sheila Gregory, Chief Executive of Carlisle Mencap said:
“One of the most important ways to help families with profoundly disabled young people is to provide short breaks away from the family home for the young person. The break allows parents to recharge batteries and carry on the often difficult and exhausting role of caring. The break also gives siblings a chance to have attention and time for themselves. Carlisle’s only respite centre closed in 2007 and although there are some options for young people to go to other centres away from Carlisle families have always felt the need to have a local short break facility. Carlisle Mencap have always supported the parents in their request for a local service and I am sure the Carlisle community will support this cause and help us to make it a reality”.
Carlisle Mencap was created by local people with disabled children in 1968. Today the charity has over 150 members and provides services for over 300 people with learning disabilities and their families in North Cumbria. The Trustees of the charity are all local people, 6 have learning difficulties themselves and 7 are parents of profoundly disabled children. Services include residential respite care for adults, supported living, community support, family support workers for young people with autism, holidays, charity shop and work scheme, leisure activities and befriending.
For more information please contact Evlyn Goddard on 01228 674114 or email evlyn.goddard@kingmoorpark.co.uk
Notes for Editors
1 Grace Little was born in Manchester in 1914. She married a Cumbrian, Harold and they farmed near Heads Nook. One of their children, Frank had Downs Syndrome. Tragically, Grace’s other son was killed in a farm accident and after the death of her husband, Grace and Frank retired to Lansdowne Close in Carlisle. Eventually Grace and Frank both went to live in the same nursing home, where Frank sadly died a year before Grace. Grace died aged 94 in January 2009. She was a kind woman who never forgot anyone who helped her. She left the majority of her funds to the cathedral and 4 charities who had helped her and Frank.
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