Member Article

School boy raises money for his cousin’s charity

~~School boy raises money for his cousin’s charity Ben Leese aged 7 from Rothwell Church of England Primary Academy has done his family proud by running round Pontefract Race ground, the longest racecourse in Europe in a super speedy 36 minutes! He ran on a chilly day in December to aid of Leeds Mencap and raised an amazing £330.

Inspired by the fantastic support that Leeds Mencap provides for his cousin Henry, the charity were really pleased to welcome Ben and his family to Leeds Mencap and Ben enjoyed getting to see the specialised Hawthorn Family Support Centre for up to 3 year olds where his cousin attends. Ben was over the moon to jump in the ball pool with fundraising officer to hand over the cheque!

Ben said “I chose to raise money for Leeds Mencap as I wanted them to get Henry to be as good as they could get him”. Ben’s family, friends, school and even the company where his dad worked all helped raise such a great amount. Ben will be presented with a certificate of thanks from Leeds Mencap at his school’s assembly.

Henry Dakin, Ben’s cousin is 22 months and has been attending Leeds Mencap’s Hawthorn Family Support Centre since September 2014. Henry’s mum, Louise said “I look forward to coming every Monday, the centre is amazing. Speaking to other families in the same position is a great comfort.”

Research has shown that the period between 0-3 years is critical in shaping children’s life chances, based on evidence of brain formation, communication and language development. A lack of early support and education can lead to these children having difficulty entering main stream education at an older age. Leeds Mencap’s Hawthorn Family Support centre is the only centre of its kind in Leeds and demand is high. We provide the early support necessary to help children with learning disabilities achieve more and have better opportunities in their future life. The centre also aims to develop a network of support that the parents / carers utilize in the coming years to help them cope with the pressures of having a child with a learning disability.

To find out more about Leeds Mencap or to get involved, call us on 0113 2351331 or visit www.leedsmencap.org.uk.

*********************************************************************************************** About Leeds Mencap:

Leeds Mencap is a local and independent charity that provides support for children and adults with a learning disability, along with their families and carers. It has been running since 1953.

Although Leeds Mencap is affiliated with National Mencap, the charity is an independently-run charity and has to secure all its own funding.

Leeds Mencap aims to provide support, advice and practical help to the whole family, long term and do this through a variety of services, including Youth Clubs, Me2 – an inclusive dance project for young people, School Holiday Play Schemes, a Parent/Carer Support Project with various support groups, Sibling Support, the Rookery residential home and the Hawthorn Family Support Centre for families with very young children with a learning disability and much more.

About Learning Disabilities:

A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops but the causes can vary. Most develop before a baby is born, during birth or because of a serious illness in early childhood. However, sometimes the cause of learning disabilities can’t be found. People who have learning disabilities may find it harder to learn new skills, understand information or to interact with other people. A learning disability is ever-present and usually has a significant impact on a person’s life.

Leeds Mencap recognises that there are many types of learning disabilities. A learning disability can be mild, moderate or severe and some people with a learning disability may also have other physical and emotional conditions.

There are an estimated 15,000 people in Leeds with learning disabilities.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Catherine Storey .