A CHARITY which helps support adults living with learning difficulties in Dorset has been awarded £217,000 from the National Lottery.

Dorchester-based People First Dorset has been given a huge cash boost which it will use to run Speaking Up and other action groups for adults with learning disabilities. These groups help to talk about, and address, the significant barriers to inclusion.

The Speaking Up and other action groups will empower around 150 adults with learning disabilities across Dorset to make friends, learn about their rights and develop their ability to speak up and address concerns.

Kerry Martin, Project Worker and People First Dorset member, said: “This money means we can have a bigger impact on the lives of people with learning disabilities”.

People First Dorset (PFD) was established in 2004 and has grown to employ 11 staff and 25 volunteers, many of whom have a learning disability themselves.

The charity describes learning difficulties as people who have a lifelong, significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, learn skills and to cope independently.

Graham Waters, Chairman of People First Dorset, said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to press on with our plans to better support people with learning disabilities across Dorset. This is important because our beneficiaries still experience significant barriers to inclusion, in particular with regards to health, employment opportunities, discrimination and social inclusion. We simply couldn’t run these initiatives or make such a difference to so many people’s lives without this generous grant.”

The charity is very involved in the local community and last year held a special event in March to mark World Down Syndrome Day.

The event aimed to bring people with learning disabilities together across Dorset and Somerset to speak up about their experiences of Down Syndrome.

People First Dorset has a partnership with the Echo which sees members William and Emily write a weekly column, Our View.

The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by The Friendship Club, another project run by People First Dorset.

To find out more about the work of People First Dorset visit www.peoplefirstdorset.org.uk