About 500 older people with learning disabilities and their carers will benefit from a new project in North Tyneside given more than £460,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

In total, £1.1 million is being awarded to four projects across the North East from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) Reaching Communities programme, which aims to help those most in need and build stronger communities.

The Learning Disabilities Federation will use the £463,058 grant to encourage independent living by allowing older people, many of whom rely on carers, to live in their own homes for longer.

Learning Disabilities Federation chairman, Heather Clegg, said: “This money is such a lifeline. We currently help about 60 people, but with this money we can help 500. With improved health and an ageing population some people with learning disabilities are outliving members of their family. We need services to be brought in tandem with this growing situation.”

Other groups which have received cash include Tynedale Hospice at Home which was awarded £142,373 to continue to provide bereavement support to children and young people in Tynedale and West Northumberland.

City of Sunderland College received £242,478 to help people with disabilities and learning difficulties, and Tees Valley Rural Community Council received £248,784 to continue to develop the Old Co-op Building in Loftus which provides services and activities to rural and isolated communities of Loftus, Skelton, Brotton and Lockwood.

James Turner, Big Lottery Fund head of region for the North East, said: “We are absolutely committed to helping the most vulnerable in our society as demonstrated by this round of awards in the North East.

“An ageing population brings challenges and this issue will continue to grow in the years ahead so we are delighted to award the Learning Disabilities Federation this significant grant.”

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