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Community Activities Trust (CAT)

Community Activity Trust (CAT)

NEW FUND LAUNCHING!  

A new fund launched on Wednesday 6th April 2011 for adults (16+) with learning disabilities called the Community Activities Trust Fund (or CAT Fund for short).

If you, or someone you know, has learning disabilities and is wanting to try something new or challenging – from swimming lessons to sky-diving; art classes to visiting a museum; attending a football match to being an active participant in a club – but can’t afford it, the CAT Fund  may be able to help.

Criteria:
 
(1) Confirmation of age limits - minimum age is 16 , so lots of young people still attending school are eligible, & can try out activities in preparation for their transition to adult life, & there is no upper age limit, so every adult can continue to have new experiences;
(2) Adults who are autistic are eligible for consideration;
(3) Exceptionally, Trustees may consider contributing to support/ transport costs if other options are not available & these are essential to enable an adult or adults to benefit from new experiences;
(4) Grants may fund "one-off" activities, or for example a course of art/singing lessons, a football season ticket - anything that meets the criteria can be considered! 

Apply using our Application Form or for further information call Claire Conroy at ACVO on (01224) 686058 or email cat@acvo.org.uk. Application forms can also be obtained from the Carers Centre or from some service providers (e.g. Inspire or Cornerstone)



A trust which aims to enable city people with learning disabilities to experience activities in their community has been launched this week.

Community Activities Trust (CAT) will supply financial help to suitable applicants so they can participate in activities they would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience.

The activities can be anything from swimming lessons to sky-diving, art classes to visiting a museum, attending a football match to being an active participant in a club. The CAT Fund hopes to be able to provide grants to make these experiences possible.

CAT will be supported in its initial years through funds from Aberdeen City Council (Social Work) and the money provided will be available to applicants in two types of grant: one for individuals on low income who would not otherwise be able to afford the experiences.  These grants will be up to around £50 a person. The second type of grant is available to organisations to arrange experiences for several individuals or to venues in the city to make them more user-friendly for people with learning disabilities. These grants will vary in size depending on the numbers being supported.

Tom Cowan, Head of Adult Services, Social Care and Wellbeing at Aberdeen City Council said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Community Activities Trust. The trust is a key component in the transformation of learning disability day services within the City – which is about bringing genuine choice and opportunity to individuals – and they will greatly enhance this by ensuring that individuals and groups will have access to resources which can be used creatively and innovatively.”

The trust was launched at Transition Extreme Sport, Links Road, Aberdeen on Wednesday 6th April 2011 when the first beneficiaries had the chance to experience the activities on offer. 

For more information on CAT, please contact the Administrator Claire Conroy at cat@acvo.org.uk or call her on (01224) 686058.


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