Bexley Mencap, is today announcing it has found a new home to develop a Community Hub, a space where the charity will expand its services and opportunities in tackling the inequalities which face local people with a learning disability and/or autism as well as their families and carers.
The charity is now urgently seeking support from the community to realise this dream, especially from skilled tradespeople, to help transform the building so it can open its doors early next year.
Plasterers, builders or decorators are particularly needed by the charity to renovate the new space and prepare the Community Hub.
The opportunity has come after Bexley Mencap was awarded almost £500,000 this year by the National Lottery Community Fund to develop the stand-alone Community Hub, which will provide advice and support services and activities for local people with a learning disability and/or autism, their families and carers, and the wider public.
Their new home in Sidcup will mean a broadening of the charity’s services and the organisation has already hired six new team members, including four individuals with lived experience of a learning disability and/or autism.
Kara Lee, Chief Executive of Bexley Mencap, says:
“Finding our new home is a huge moment for us for the people we support and their families and carers but now we urgently need the community’s help to get it ready. If you’re a tradesperson who could spare a few hours, a day, or more, your skills will help create a space that empowers people with learning disabilities and/or autism to thrive.
“This new space is big enough for our whole team to be based together in one place, which will make it easier for people to drop in, ask questions, and get the right support quickly. This is vital because people with a learning disability, their families, and carers, often face the biggest barriers and inequalities in Bexley. They often experience increased isolation, poorer mental health and lower life-expectancy, than their peers.
“Our new hub will tackle those inequalities but we need our local community to help us build the hub and make it fit-for-purpose. We need an army of builders, decorators, plasterers, and volunteers. Please join our build.”
If you can’t support with your time, the charity is also asking people to consider donating to help fund the build. Every donation could help make the new building a home and hub for the whole of our community.
To volunteer your time or donate to towards the build, please visit our Community Hub page using the button below