Kenilworth organisation donates funds to charity that supports residents with learning disabilities

A Kenilworth organisation has continued to support a charity that supports residents in Warwickshire with learning disabilities.

A cheque for more than £4,000 has been donated to Heart of England Mencap by the Kenilworth circle of the Catenian Association – a fellowship of practising Catholic men.

Past Kenilworth Circle President, Brother Bernard Baxter, chose Heart of England Mencap as his charity for the year 2019 to 2020 - and during that period the fellowship really ‘dug deep’ to provide support.

They set about helping to restore the once flourishing allotments on the site of one of Heart of England Mencap’s supported living settings, at Eastwell House in Shipston Road in Stratford.

Working with staff and the local people with learning disabilities that call Eastwell House home, they cleared grass, dug out beds, built raised beds, painted sheds and cleared the greenhouse ready for planting.

Now their support has gone further with the donation of £4,275, raised through raffles and events.

Helena Wallis, Chief Executive of Heart of England Mencap, said: “We can’t say a big enough thank you to the Catenian Association for their incredible support.

"Not only have they raised a really significant amount for a small charity like ours, but they have also made such a difference to the lives of the people we support by enriching the gardens at Eastwell and providing a wonderful new opportunity for everyone to enjoy and benefit from growing their own.

“We’re now hoping this very generous donation can further improve the outdoor space at Eastwell House and are looking at how we can use it to develop a therapy garden there, to benefit people across our services.”