Stoke organisation supporting people with disabilities receives over £250,000 National Lottery funding

Don't DIS my ABILITY, a Stoke-on-Trent-based project that provides a safe space for people with disabilities to access fitness and rehabilitation facilities, has received over £250,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund – the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

The Don't DIS my ABILITY project, delivered by Impact Community Gym CIC, is one of over 200 projects across the West Midlands, doing vital work with communities, to receive a share of over £15 million in National Lottery funding in the last three months.*

The Don't DIS my ABILITY project expects to support 200 individuals, improving strength and agility, supporting them to carry out their everyday tasks and gaining independence. This will have a ripple effect on 600 families and caregivers, whose lives will be improved by respite time, improved moods and confidence.

Impact Community Gym CIC will use the funding to expand its services to meet growing demand, and will now be able to help people with head injuries, strokes or brain injuries get back on their feet through rehabilitation and confidence exercises.

Simon, a person who has received help from the service, said: “I started attending Impact in 2019 following my discharge from hospital, after suffering a brain injury caused by an AVM (arteriovenous malformation) rupture in 2018.”

“I wasn’t keen on gym environments before but heard about Impact being disability-friendly. When I joined, the warm welcome I received from the entire team made me feel completely at ease. Now, I’ve lost over 5 stone, gone from completely relying on my wheelchair to now having complete independence around the home and only needing my wheelchair for longer trips outdoors.”

Jacqui Oakes, Day Opportunities Manager at Impact Community Gym CIC, said:

“Thanks to National Lottery players we are able to provide this life-changing project. Don't DIS my ABILITY at Impact Community Gym CIC will provide exercise and rehabilitation sessions specifically developed for people with a range of disabilities. We do not aim to keep our clients permanently, but we aim to get them to a stage where they feel confident enough to move on to a more independent life.”

Nicola Thurbon, Senior Head of Regional Funding (Midlands) at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Don't DIS my ABILITY is an excellent example of how our funding strengthens communities, and I'm pleased that we are able to support their work which is having a positive impact on those with disabilities in the area.”

“Thanks to National Lottery players and the hard work and dedication of local organisations, like Impact Community Gym, this latest funding announcement will make a big difference to people’s lives across Stoke-on-Trent and the West Midlands.”

Stoke-on-Trent is not alone in benefiting from National Lottery funding. Today it was announced that almost £133 million in funding has been awarded to over 2,400 community groups in England in the past three months.*

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes across the UK. In the last 12 months we have given out nearly £600 million to 12,500 organisations reaching every local authority and constituency in the UK.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk

Date published: 14 March, 2023
Region: England (West Midlands)

Notes to Editors

* These figures are for funding awarded from 26 November 2022 – 24February 2023.

About The National Lottery Community Fund

We are the largest funder of community activity in the UK – we support people and communities to prosper and thrive.

We are proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and to work closely with Government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.

Our funding has a positive impact and makes a difference to people’s lives. We support projects focused on things that matter, including economic prosperity, employment, young people, mental health, loneliness and helping the UK reach net zero by 2050.

Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £43 billion has been raised for good causes. National Lottery funding has been used to support over 635,000 projects - 255 projects per postcode area.

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