Herald - Issue 413

v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v 7th October 2021 • The HERALD • Page 5 MP Guttering & Roofing Services • Fascias, Guttering, Soffits, Cladding and much more PVCu work • All roof repairs, gutters, flat roofs, chimney repairs • Moss removal 15% Discount for OAP’s Established 30 years 07730 377114 023 8087 9135 mpgutteringservices@outlook.com DECORATOR INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING General Small Maintenance Works Reliable, Prompt with a High Standard of Work Fully Insured • Free Estimates NICK CROUCHER 023 8084 8154 or 07594 582194 New Forest Mencap Receives £295K from the National Lottery Local community group, New Forest Mencap, is celebrating after being awarded £295,255 in National Lottery funding to further its work supporting people with learning disabilities, their families, and their carers. e money will fund two new services over three years: an Information, Advice and Guidance service and a Life Skills service. Both services will add signi cant value to the current services available for adults with learning disabilities in the New Forest. e Chair of New Forest Mencap, Mike Snell CBE, commented: “We are over the moon that the National Lottery has backed our proposal to improve services and opportunities for adults with learning disabilities. COVID-19 has had a huge and negative impact for eighteen months on the vulnerable adults, their carers and parents we are here to serve. This initiative will be a major part of the kick- start we are determined to make as we enter a ‘new normal’ for all our users.” New Forest Mencap provides support, activities, information and guidance to people with learning disabilities, their parents, families and carers. Over the last 24 months they have provided activities to 150 di erent people with a learning disability and information and/or support to 50+ parents. Since May 2020 they have been providing all their activities online and between May 2020 and July 2021, provided over 320 online ‘Zoom’ sessions (including drama, singing, cra ing, yoga, keeping t, sharing music, social chat) yielding over 2,600 attendances from over 80 people. ese activities have given people with learning disabilities the chance, to maintain skills, learn new ones and have hobbies and interests, as o en, once they leave education, there are fewer opportunities to continue any kind of learning journey. New Forest Mencap has been in existence since 1969 and is an a liated Network Partner of the Royal Mencap Society, although they are an entirely stand- alone charity and receive no direct funding from this a liation. e new funding from e National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest funder of community activity in the UK, will allow them to expand their services and help more people to live ful lling and independent lives. Enjoying the many activities New Forest Mencap has on offer