Kisharon looks to raise £1.5m amid ‘great concern’ over funding

One of the community’s leading  learning disabilities charities is looking to raise £1.5m this weekend, in a bid to ensure its services can continue amid the ongoing pandemic.

Kisharon will run a match-funding campaign for 36-hours starting on 2 May, with all donations doubled by generous supporters.

Since the start of the pandemic, charities have been forced to change fundraising methods, with physical events not allowed, while many services have been curtailed due to the restrictions.

The campaign seeks to address the gap in funding, which Kisharon’s chief executive said is of “great concern” over the next 12 months. It will support the charity’s work assisting children and adults with a range of learning disabilities, in areas such as education and independent living to employment and training.

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Chief executive, Richard Franklin, urged the community to back the campaign and donate generously, saying: “This past year our team has gone above and beyond to ensure anyone relying on Kisharon could always be supported.”

He said raising money “over the next twelve months is of great concern to Kisharon – particularly given the continued restrictions around fundraising”.

Franklin added that the charity “maintains front-line services in every sense, and our support teams have, in equal measure, surprised and inspired with their creativity, positivity, determination and can-do attitude. It is a precious positivity that sees abilities in the people we support – and not their disabilities.”

Find out more about Kisharon’s fundraising campaign, which you can donate from Sunday, by clicking here: charityextra.com/kisharon