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Freemasons from Leyland have donated over £9,000 to help disabled children and carers.
Disabled children and young carers are set to benefit from riding therapy and inclusive sports in Leyland after West Lancashire Freemasons grant to Ride2Success.
Over 600 disabled children and young carers between the ages of 8 to 25 will be able to access the service.
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The programmes support physical, emotional and social development and help Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) youth with pathways to employment.
The £9,600 grant from West Lancashire Freemasons through the Masonic Charitable Foundation will allow the charity to extend the Riding4All and Sports4All programmes.
Lindy Jolly, CEO at Ride2Success, said: “We’re very grateful to West Lancashire Freemasons for their generous grant, which will allow us to help hundreds of children and young carers who will benefit enormously from the riding and sports therapies we offer.
“This is an area that has some of the highest numbers of young carers in the north of England.”
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As well as this, the money will allow the charity to recruit additional volunteers in order to reduce waiting lists and offer vital support to more children and their families.
Many of the children who will be accessing the services have complex learning and physical disabilities, autism, ADHD, or other neurodivergent conditions.
Nearly half of the young carers also have SEND and come from low-income households.
These support programmes help with children’s physical and emotional development as well as help them to overcome feelings of exclusion, anxiety and low self-confidence.
Ride2Success also helps to create qualification pathways for SEND beneficiaries aged 16+, further helping them to get into educational and employment opportunities.
Mark Francis Matthews, leader of the West Lancashire Freemasons, said: “I am very pleased that we have been able to assist Ride2Success with their vital programme for young children with special needs and disabilities.
“Equally important is the support they provide in transitioning into adulthood, as individuals with these special needs often face a significant risk of long-term unemployment.”
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