2019-11-22 11:45:21
A learning disability charity has shared its research to help upskill a charitable foundation about social care and the issues the sector is currently facing.
Billy Davis, who is Public Affairs and Policy Manager at national learning disability charity Hft, spoke to staff members at a training event run by Lloyds Bank Foundation, which funds and supports small and local charities across England and Wales to tackle complex social issues including overcoming problems faced by people with a learning disability. The training encouraged Foundation staff members to grow their knowledge about the learning disability sector and help them to have more informed conversations that ultimately lead to an improved grant-making process.
One of the issues discussed by Billy Davis was the funding crisis the social care sector is currently facing. The policy manager drew on Hft’s annual Sector Pulse Check research, which provides a yearly snapshot of the financial health of the sector, to highlight the impact of the financial pressures affecting services that support people with learning disabilities. Last year’s report revealed that more than half (59%) of providers had been forced to close down some parts of their organisation or hand back contracts to local authorities as a means of dealing with cost pressures.
Billy Davis, Public Affairs and Policy Manager, said:
“Hft has been producing the Sector Pulse Check report, which is the only research to focus exclusively on providers in the learning disability sector, for four years now. In that time, we have gathered a wealth of knowledge about the challenges faced by providers, and the impact this is having on people who receive those services.
“I was delighted to be invited to share our research with Lloyds Bank Foundation. I hope that it has helped to shine a light on some of the current issues facing the learning disability sector and the people we support, which in turn will inform Lloyds Bank Foundation when making funding decisions in the work that they do to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities.”
Oliver Williams, Head of Grants (South) at Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, said:
“In our current portfolio, we have awarded 50 grants worth £3m to small and local charities across England and Wales which support people with a learning disability. Therefore it’s crucial that our decision-making is informed by experts in the field who work and help those with a learning disability, whether it’s to find work or live with more independence. We’re delighted to hear from Hft’s policy manager, who has really helped us to better understand the social care and learning disability policy landscape in England and Wales.”
Hft currently supports more than 2,500 people with learning disabilities across the country to live the best life possible. This includes supporting people with learning disabilities to live independently in their own homes, providing employment services to help people develop skills and experience for work and helping people to pursue hobbies, make new friends and get involved in their local communities.
To take part in this year’s Sector Pulse Check survey, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YDK9NDJ
Notes to editors
For further information please phone 0117 906 1755 or email media.enquiries@hft.org.uk.
About Hft
Hft is a national charity supporting more than 2,500 adults with learning disabilities across England and Wales to live the best life possible. Established in 1962, the charity uses its own unique Fusion Model to consistently deliver high quality, person-centred support across all its services.
Services range from supported living to residential care – from a few hours a week to 24 hours a day. Hft also helps people with learning disabilities to take part in daily activities, make friends and develop relationships and to find work.
For more information about Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk
About Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales
Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales partners with small and local charities who help people overcome complex social issues. During 2018 the Foundation distributed £20 million through new and existing grants, supporting more than 900 charities which helped 142,000 people experiencing disadvantage.
Through long-term funding, developmental support and influencing policy and practice, the Foundation helps those charities make life-changing impact. The Foundation is an independent charitable trust funded by the profits of Lloyds Banking Group as part of their commitment to Helping Britain Prosper.
For more information visit www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk
Information about learning disabilities
A learning disability can be mild, moderate, severe or profound and is defined as having a reduced ability to:
- Understand new or complex information
- Learn new skills
- Live independently
For more information about learning disabilities, please visit www.hft.org.uk/resources-and-guidance
