Out & About has recently learned that it is set to receive £236,500 from the Transition Fund; part of a £100 million government fund set aside by the Cabinet Office to support those charities that have been hit the hardest by cuts in government spending. For the charity, the news could not have come at a better time as it responds to cuts in some areas and looks to increase its support from the community and local businesses.
Out & About, which at one point relied on local authorities for 89% of its funds, has seen a sharp drop in income in some areas and has been developing new ways of running its services in an attempt to limit the impact of cuts on those disabled children it supports. The grant, which is distributed and managed by the Big Lottery Fund, is a major boost for the charity and will enable it to implement a new strategic plan which it hopes will increase the numbers of disabled children taking part in ordinary leisure activities throughout the region.
The charity supported 350 disabled children in our region last year and Steve Allman, chief executive of Out & About, says he hopes to increase this number in future,
“Disabled children tell us that they dream of being able to take part in local activities alongside other children and not having their disability get in the way. We’ve spent months thinking up new ways to help make these dreams a reality and the Transition Fund grant gives us some of the security we need to implement our exciting new plans and provide new opportunities for disabled children to experience something we all take for granted; having fun and making friends in all sorts of local leisure activities across the region”.
In addition to its direct work with disabled children, Out & About also provides inclusion training to the leisure industry, or any provider who wants to make their activities or venue more accessible to disabled children and young people. Steve says that the charity hopes to increase its training activity this year in a bid to top up the grant with its own income,
“The Transition Fund is about supporting charities to become sustainable and secure their future; so we’re using part of the grant to look at ways in which we can generate our own income and, like any charity, we’re always grateful to our local communities and businesses for any support they can offer in helping us find funds to support local disabled children.”
Cecilia Foulger whose son Matthew (pictured right) has been supported by Out & About said, “This is fantastic news! Out & About has made a huge difference to our lives. Matthew has become far more independent and confident as a result of their support. I just don’t know what I would have done without them and its good to know that many more disabled children can benefit from their good work”
