Cumbria’s Bendrigg Trust has received a fantastic £5,000 through SPAR’s Community Cashback initiative.
Established in the 1970s, Bendrigg is a residential activity centre between Kendal and Sedbergh specialising in supporting young disabled people to access outdoor adventures like climbing, kayaking, caving, archery, and bike riding.
The centre hosts around 4,000 visitors a year from both the local area and across the UK supporting them to be adventurous and take on exciting challenges whether utilising the site’s facilities or taking people to cave in North Yorkshire, kayak on Lake Windermere and sightsee in the Lake District.
Fiona Drummond, SPAR Company Stores Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR’s primary retailer, wholesaler and distributor for the North of England, was delighted to attend Bendrigg’s residential activity centre to present the cheque to the charity’s Fundraising Manager Lizzie Feltoe.
Lizzie said: “This grant is a such a boost to Bendrigg and our fundraising efforts for the new sensory room, and it’s brilliant to have the support of the SPAR Community Cashback scheme. Our current sensory room is over 10 years old and is a firm favourite with our visitors.
“Being away from home, sometimes for the first time, can be an exciting but nerve-wracking experience with a lot of new sights, sounds and experiences that can be overwhelming. This is especially the case when children have a learning or sensory disability. The space is a haven of peace and calm for some time out to recharge before heading back out on site again.
“The funding will help purchase user friendly new equipment, like a star projector, musical wall, fibre optic wall carpet and bubble tubes. Children will be able to control it themselves, which will be fun for them. We are also going to install a new ‘H’ hoist which means wheelchair users can safely transfer into any part of the room so that they are fully included.”
SPAR Community Cashback returned more popular than ever in its fourth consecutive year and James Hall & Co. Ltd received 1,400 applications from charities and organisations across the North of England.
Nationally, more than 65 charities and local groups have shared a £100,000 grant fund this year, and since Community Cashback launched in 2021, grants have been awarded to nearly 200 organisations, highlighting SPAR’s long-term commitment in supporting local communities.
Fiona said: “Bendrigg is in such a stunning setting, and it has superb facilities. I was thrilled to present such a meaningful amount of funding on behalf of SPAR enabling the team to upgrade the much-loved sensory room.
“Learning about the charity’s history and the memorable experiences it provides for visitors was heartwarming and I look forward to returning once the work on the sensory room is complete.
“Accessing funding is becoming increasingly difficult for charities, and on behalf of SPAR, it is lovely to know that Community Cashback is revered by local charities and organisations and that we are acknowledged for supporting the communities that we serve.”
James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.
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