Words by Smiley Team
An outdoor haven for people with disabilities, Bendrigg Trust consists of 15 acres of exquisite grounds located between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. Luckily for its visitors, while other activities were closed, the park has remained open during lockdown thanks to a donation of £90,000 from the ScottishPower Foundation.
Featuring bluebell woods, a sculpture trail and a musical instrument garden, the parkland is ideal for people to safely escape the stressful lockdown in its naturally-calming surroundings.
“We recognise that now, more than ever, the individuals and families we work with need some respite and something to look forward to,” said Martha Wood, fundraising and marketing officer at Bendrigg Trust.
“Many of the families who join us on our residential programmes don’t have access to safe outdoor space or a garden to enjoy. It seemed like such a simple solution to let people book a slot to explore the grounds and enjoy everything nature has to offer, and from the feedback we’ve had it has been a huge source of support.”
Originally intended to pay for a residential programme, the £90,000 was redirected with the ScottishPower Foundation’s consent, to pay for essential staff to keep the grounds open.
Bendrigg Trust made its idyllic woodlands available to those in need after discovering through a survey that many of its visitors would benefit from walks through the park.
Over Christmas time, the trust hosted its first Winter Wonderland, which allowed over 70 families to enjoy a festive trail of surprises while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Melanie Hill, executive officer and trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “Even though the Bendrigg Trust has been financially impacted by the pandemic, the people and families it supports have remained the team’s first priority throughout, and that is truly admirable.
“The decision to open the grounds has given many vulnerable people and the wider community access to a safe space where they can get some fresh air and enjoy exercise – something that is so crucial to our mental and physical health at the moment.”
Bendrigg Trust promotes independence and inclusivity for people with disabilities through activity courses and access to its grounds.
Donate to Bendrigg Trust and offer more disabled people a quality break from lockdown. While £10 is enough to offer six visitors a weekend of outdoor activities, £100 can cover six weeks of training for an instructor to learn the skills necessary to work with disabled people.
