Supporting people with learning disabilities – the Basil Houghton Memorial Trust

Marking Learning Disability Week 2015.

News from our partners.

Shropshire Council and Shropshire RCC is reminding people with learning disabilities, their family carers and voluntary organisations of the small grants available to them from the Basil Houghton Memorial Trust.

The Basil Houghton Memorial Trust was established with an endowment from Mrs Doris Houghton and named after her son, the late Basil Houghton of Shrewsbury, who himself had a learning disability. Mrs Houghton was particularly keen that the money should be used to enable people with a learning disability to fulfil their dreams or aspirations and to improve the quality of their lives either individually or collectively.

The Trust has modest resources to make small grants to support people with learning disabilities and their family carers, either directly or through voluntary organisations supporting people with a learning disability. The Trust is able to make small grants within the following strict criteria:

• Individual beneficiaries must have a learning disability and be resident in Shropshire.
• Organisations seeking support for groups of people with learning disabilities should be located in Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin and the majority of beneficiaries must be resident in Shropshire.

Funding can only be given for people resident in the local authority areas of Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin, and grants will only be awarded for services which are not the responsibility of statutory bodies or are additional to those provided by statutory bodies. Examples of the type of award given to date include:

• Contributions towards holidays with or without the family.

• Payments for support to enable travel, or entertainment, sports participation or social activities.

• Payments to achieve an individual ambition or pursue a hobby or passion.

Julia Baron, Chair of the Basil Houghton Memorial Trust, said:

“We are very keen to hear from anyone for whom a small grant could make a big difference. The application is very straightforward and we know that previous grant recipients have really enjoyed having a short break or the opportunity to buy a piece of equipment which brings them pleasure for months and years to come”.

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult services, said:

“This is a great fund which can really help to improve lives and maintain people’s independence. We’re pleased to help promote it and support individuals if necessary to submit an application.”

Individual applicants may apply for up to £350. Grants to organisations will be considered on their merit, taking into account the number of people who will benefit. As a guide, grants for groups do not normally exceed £1,200 per group per annum.

People wishing to apply should download an application from the Trust’s website or by calling the Trust’s administrator, Julie Stedman at Shropshire RCC on 01743 360641.