2023-06-21 14:08:30
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 learning disability charity Hft, stole the show at the recent green-themed Market Harborough Carnival, raising over £1000 for adults with learning disabilities and taking home a second place prize for their sustainable float.
Six people supported by the charity dressed as bees and were joined by colleagues from its Leicester-based day services for the ‘Save the Bees and Butterflies’-themed float. The theme was chosen to highlight the need to protect our pollinators, while raising awareness and funds for Hft.
Their efforts resulted in an incredible £1,366 being raised for Hft Leicestershire, bolstered by donations from families, to go towards local activities and projects that will support adults with learning disabilities to live their best life.
Hft’s entry was even voted runner-up in the award for Most Sustainable Float, out of 34 floats involved in the parade.
Lucinda, a supported individual involved in the project, comments, “It was a dream come true. It was my best day ever!”
Hft was keen to involve the people it supports in the project from start to finish, ensuring the voices of learning disabled people were listened to and that they were able to design something that mattered to them.
Alice Devereux, Community Fundraising Officer at Hft, explains, “With the overall theme set, the first step was to get the people we support, who attend our local day services, together to vote on their specific focus for the design of the Hft Leicestershire float, and they chose ‘Save the Bees and the Butterflies’.”
With that fixed, Alice then held a design and colouring competition, where the people Hft supports submitted their float concepts, to be put to a vote on social media. And, it was Nick’s design that was chosen as the winner!
The 2D paper design then had to be turned into a functional float, and the entire team was involved in making it a reality, including Care and Support colleagues Linzi Selby, Henry Parry-Williams, Sam Toms, Rebecca Rehman, and others from Hft Leicestershire’s On Your Doorstep day services.
Linzi Selby, Registered Area Manager for Leicestershire, adds, “This project was a real team effort, with staff and the people we support both being fundamental to all stages. I’d like to extend a special thanks to Cluster Team Manager Chris Fitzgerald and our volunteers, Dan and Amy – the day couldn’t have gone ahead without you.
“It was great to get stuck in and see the design and ideas of the people we support come to life.”
The float was adorned with handmade decorations made from recycled materials, all created by local learning disabled people, including papier mâché bees and ‘bee bombs’ – cardboard containers filled with pollen-rich wildflower seeds, which had been donated by relatives.
Finally, on the day of the carnival, the Hft float set off with the parade and local bands at 11am, travelling through Market Harborough for an hour and a half, along streets lined with residents.
“It was fantastic! A super sunny day, we got to meet the mayor, and Nick turned up looking incredibly dapper in his three-piece suit. We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” Alice says.
“Next year, we’ll do it even bigger and better!”
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
