Press Releases

Eco-inspired float raises over £1000 for adults with learning disabilities at Market Harborough Carnival

An eco-inspired float, designed, built and manned by people supported by Hft, stole the show at the recent green-themed Market Harborough Carnival, raising over £1000 for adults with learning disabilities.

‘Anyone with a learning disability should be able to live the best life possible’

Hft’s CEO encourages others to challenge misconceptions towards learning disabled adults

Hft launches skydiving campaign to combat loneliness in learning disabled adults

Hft is inviting its supporters to take a ‘Leap of Kindness’ to combat the loneliness and isolation experienced by learning disabled adults. This follows illuminating research that found more than one third (36%) of learning disabled people felt lonely nearly always or all the time.

Local MP visits Flint services to meet learning disabled adults

Mark Tami MP visited two supported employment initiatives and a day centre, run by Hft, last Friday to learn about the varied work the charity carries out to support people with a learning disability within his constituency in Flintshire.

Hft welcomes social care roadmap and calls for ring-fenced funding from Government

Kirsty Matthews, CEO of Hft, has responded to the Fabian Society’s report to the Labour party, supporting calls for a national approach to social care.

Garden party raises vital funds for adults with learning disabilities

Hft’s much-anticipated annual garden party in Wadebridge, Cornwall has this year raised over £1000 to support local adults with learning disabilities.

Research shows activity levels in learning disabled people increase with social interaction

Researchers at the University of the West of England (Bristol) have observed a clear correlation between the level of activity of a learning disabled woman and the time she spent with visitors, suggesting that having visitors has a positive impact on activity levels.

Charity’s London volunteering programme makes a difference in Barnet

In 2020, in the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hft launched a targeted programme to recruit local volunteers to give their time to supportive activities within services in and around London.

Now in its third year, the initiative is doing better than ever – and Hft is looking to extend the programme’s blueprint to other parts of the country.

Liverpool intern wins award for most progress as he navigates the world of work

Joe, an intern who worked behind the scenes at the recent Eurovision Song Contest, has won an award for Most Progress in Hft’s Project SEARCH Celebration Event, held recently to highlight the incredible journeys interns and graduates on the programme have been on.

From mechanic to support worker – Ken’s volunteering story

Ken Czmeiduch has had a packed career working as a breakdown mechanic and as a support worker for national learning disability charity Hft. Now, post-retirement, he remains at the charity on a voluntary basis and is sharing his story to encourage others to volunteer this Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June).