Empowering Disabled People
Lochaber Action on Disability (LAD)
Lochaber Action on Disability is a unique group which supports local people with a disability and raises awareness of the issues which concern them. The voluntary group is based in Caol, Fort William. It provides transport and advice, arts and crafts activities, gardening projects and a cafe.
The Café was established in 2003 and is run by two part time employees and its disabled Volunteers. It offers volunteering opportunities to enable people with a disability to realise their self worth and gain work experience. It also provides the local community, including disabled people and their carers with a meeting place as there is no other facility in Caol.
The Scottish Community Foundation awarded a grant of £5,000 to refurbish the café. It has made the cafe a much more welcoming place and contributed to an increase in income from the café and craftshop.
“The generous grant from the Scottish Community Foundation has enabled our cafe to be fully refurbished to a high standard, and enabled us to buy much needed new equipment for the kitchen. The cafe is a valuable asset to the local community”.
Barbara Budge
LAD Development Officer
How your money could help:
- £500 could help with the maintenance of the minibus to help transporting local disabled people to the cafe
- £100 could provide mobility aids for café visitors to use the facilities more comfortably
- £50 could provide wheelchair accessories including wheelchair cup holders and lap trays
- £25 could raise awareness of issues concerning, people with challenging medical conditions
Sue Ryder Centre, Duns
The Sue Ryder Care centre at Duns in the Scottish Borders provides a high standard of care for 30 residents who have Huntingdon’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Cerebral Palsy. The centre aims to provide stimulating activity for the residents but has limited funds to provide activities.
The Foundation granted the Centre £3,500 to enhance the activities programme, which include painting, photography, ceramics, a cyber café and a variety of exercise activities, all designed to engage residents and improve their quality of life.