grants help charity to cut waiting times for specialist equipment

A charity has received £3,000 to purchase new specialist equipment for people with additional needs, reducing the wait time for members to access the essential items.  

The Learning Library, based in Spennymoor, County Durham, offers a wide variety of resources that support sensory and motor skills on free, short-term loans.  

With more than 550 members across the county and growing demand, the charity’s equipment is highly sought after. 

Thanks to believe housing, the waiting list for two new items which are proving popular has been reduced.  

The not-for-profit landlord awarded the charity three £1,000 community grants to buy additional steamrollers and bounce pads for the east, west, and central areas of County Durham. 

Steamrollers, which have foam rollers that people can crawl through or roll over, provide gentle pressure improving motor skills, body awareness, strength, and self-control. 

Bounce pads, a stable alternative to trampolines, assist those with an underdeveloped sense of balance in releasing energy, reducing stress, and improving focus. 

Beau Mason, a Community Investment Coordinator at believe housing, said: “By offering free resources and a doorstep outreach service, the charity shares our vision of ‘life without barriers’.  

“We’re delighted our funding means that people sensory issues now don’t have to wait as long to access this specialist equipment and improve their health and wellbeing.  

“With more than 200 people in areas where we have homes expected to benefit, we’re confident the impact of this funding will be felt by our customers and communities.” 

Sarah Machin, Manager of The Learning Library, said: “The Learning Library has been supporting individuals with additional needs for almost 40 years.  

“We have seen a lot of changes over the years in terms of the demand for different items, and both the steamroller and bounce pads that believe housing has kindly funded are relatively new to the landscape and currently in high demand. 

“Both items are targeted at meeting the sensory needs of our members and will help support members of our local community completely free of charge, the team here is delighted to be able to support access to these items.” 

For information about the charity visit www.learninglibrary.org.uk 

And for more on community funding available to not-for-profit organisations from believe housing visit www.believehousing.co.uk/community-funding