For over 20 years the VALUES Project, run by Voluntary Action LeicesterShire, has helped people with learning disabilities in Leicester to have fun, make friends and learn new skills. We run hundreds of group and one-to-one sessions every week, from physical activities like cycling or walking to educational sessions on maths, English or cooking.

Lockdown is hard on people with learning disabilities

The pandemic has been very hard on people with learning disabilities. Many are shielding because of other conditions, and some don't understand why they they are unable to continue doing the things they usually enjoy doing. It can also be hard on families and carers who need respite but can't get it during lockdown.

VALUES has been forced to move to virtual sessions and very limited one-to-one face-to-face support. Lots of VALUES clients have enjoyed being able to keep seeing their friends and support workers, taking part in virtual dance groups, craft sessions and even the drama group! But many other clients lack the equipment or skills to get online and join in, which means they can become isolated from their friends and can't take part in the activities they enjoy.

We recently got funding to provide six clients with Facebook portals and six months of Wi-Fi access, but each one costs around £300. That's why we need your help.

How your donations will help

Donating to VALUES will help us to continue supporting our clients and to stop them from becoming isolated.

With your donations, we can buy more Facebook Portals to keep our clients engaged, pay for more support staff, and invest in other equipment for our sessions, like craft equipment, cooking equipment or anything else that helps us to keep delivering our sessions.

Anything you can donate will help us to keep our learning disability clients safe, happy and healthy.