2019-06-03 08:00:09
This Volunteers’ Week, Hft is celebrating people who give up their time to support adults with learning disabilities.
Valerie Healy is one of over 100 people who volunteer at Hft. After working with a similar charity in her hometown of Cork, the 40 year old was keen to continue volunteering when she moved to Bristol. Since January 2018, she’s been taking time out of her busy role as an administrator in a veterinary pathology lab to spend one day a week with 40 year old Berry, who she was matched with through Hft’s volunteer buddy scheme.
The scheme allows people supported by the charity to be matched with people who can help them take part in new activities and try new hobbies. People specify what activity they’re interested in and the charity advertises for the volunteer position to recruit someone with similar interests. New experiences introduced by buddies have ranged from dog walking and gardening to attending football matches.
After Berry mentioned she was keen to have a female friend of a similar age, the pair were matched up through the buddy scheme and have since developed a close relationship. During her time as a volunteer, Valerie has taken on a range of activities, including music, Zumba dancing and trips out, at the supported living service where Berry and 15 other adults live.
Valerie said:
“I like volunteering for Hft as it is very uplifting. I’m always greeted with smiling faces and hugs. As a volunteer, you get such a great sense of achievement, friendship, and belonging. It’s really rewarding and an experience like no other.”
During Volunteers’ Week (1 – 7 June), Hft is celebrating and thanking people like Valerie for the contributions they make. The charity offers various opportunities for volunteering, including corporate volunteering, fundraising and a buddy scheme. Volunteers have the chance to make a difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities, while also gaining confidence, skills and new friendships as a result. The charity’s volunteers contributed over 8,000 hours of their time in the last year.
Lorna Bird, Project Coordinator for Volunteering at Hft, said:
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of initiatives like our volunteer buddy scheme, which unites people with similar interests and couldn’t run without people like Valerie. We’re delighted that our volunteers choose to give up their valuable time to Hft and are always looking for more people to join us in supporting people with learning disabilities to live the best life possible.”
Hft currently supports more than 2,900 people with learning disabilities across the country. This includes supporting people with learning disabilities to live with as much independence, choice, dignity and control as possible. That can range from helping someone to find a job, make friends or adapting their home so they can enjoy a greater level of independence.
Notes to editors
For further information please email media.enquiries@hft.org.uk
About Hft
Proudly established in 1962 by a group of visionary parents, Hft is a charity supporting more than 2,500 learning disabled adults in England and Wales. Together, we are creating a future where learning disabled people and their families can live the best life possible.
Providing personalised support. Creating solutions for living independently. Coming together to campaign for positive change. Fundraising for new opportunities and a bigger impact.
In 2033, we’ll live in a world where learning disabled people have greater choice. About where they live. The support they need and want. And how to spend their time and money.
Learning disability versus difficulty
A learning disability is different from a learning difficulty but the terms are often confused and used inter-changeably. A learning difficulty does not affect general intellect, whereas a learning disability is a life-long condition characterised by a reduced intellectual ability and struggle with everyday activities.
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For more information about Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk
Location: Hft Bristol & Bath
