Linkage Community Trust, a registered charity, has received a generous grant of £164,316 from The National Lottery Community Fund to support their sensory outreach service. This service is tailored towards individuals with learning disabilities and autism and aims to provide them with sensory experiences. The new funding will allow the charity to create a mobile sensory space, which will travel across Greater Lincolnshire, reaching children and adults in smaller communities.
Currently, the Linkage Outreach team delivers their services through a converted single decker bus. However, with the new grant, they will be able to upgrade their facility and reach a larger number of individuals. The bus has been a vital resource for the community in the past, with up to 40 community days and 23 school visits per year. Each school is provided with seven visits to ensure maximum benefit and enjoyment for the pupils.
The National Lottery Community Fund has recognized the importance of this project and has provided the necessary funding to improve the services and reach more individuals. The sensory outreach service offered by Linkage is crucial in improving communication skills, increasing calmness, relaxation, concentration, and overall well-being. It also provides an opportunity for individuals who may not have access to sensory therapy otherwise. Parents, teachers, carers, and professionals in different support environments are also inspired by this service.
Niz Smith, the Outreach Project Coordinator, expressed his excitement about the grant, stating, “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognized our work in this way. Now, thanks to the National Lottery players, we’ll be able to reach into smaller community spaces and get right into the heart of Lincolnshire’s rural communities. This is important because in a large rural county like Lincolnshire, it can be very difficult for people to access services but by bringing the service to them we’re overcoming these barriers. Above all, we’ve seen the benefits and joy people experience using the bus and the difference it can make.”
Along with their sensory outreach service, Linkage also provides person-centred services for individuals with learning disabilities and autism. These include specialist education, care, community support, adult day services, employability, and support services across Greater Lincolnshire and East Riding, Yorkshire. The new sensory bus will join their outreach service later this year.
For more information about the Linkage Sensory Outreach, please visit their website at linkage.org.uk/outreach/.
For media requests, interviews, photos, and further information, please contact Bria Russell at communications@linkage.org.uk or call 01473 372 314.
This story was distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.
