A Poole centre that supports disabled adults has received a donation from Persimmon Homes to help it provide vital therapies during the pandemic after it launched a fundraising drive.

Diverse Abilities received £1,000 from Persimmon Homes South Coast thanks to its Community Champions scheme, which has run since 2015. Charities, clubs, and groups that work with their local communities can apply, with two donations of up to £1,000 available every month in the region.

Diverse Abilities’ activity and therapy service, The Beehive Centre, supports 45 adults with physical and learning disabilities and long-standing conditions, such as Cerebral Palsy.

However, during the COVID-19 crisis, The Beehive Centre has had to make major changes to continue its support of adults with disabilities, which has put additional pressure on funding. They have launched a public appeal for funds and were delighted when they were chosen to benefit from the Community Champions scheme.

Naomi Richards, fundraising officer at Diverse Abilities, said: “We are the only centre for adults with disabilities in Dorset to have an inhouse nursing service. We also offer physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Due to COVID-19, the adults we support have been isolating at home and in July we opened the centre again, to provide emergency carer respite within the government’s guidelines.

“We are trying to combat the negative effects of self-isolation the disabled adults are displaying, and provide physiotherapy, as without this they are at a serious risk of further health issues.

“Due to strict guidelines we can only operate at a third capacity, so to increase the number of people we can support we are hiring satellite sites which has increased our costs, as well as having to spend £37,000 on PPE by the end of the year.

“We are very grateful to Persimmon Homes South Coast for its support. This grant will go towards running costs and help sustain us and ensure we can continue providing vital therapies for disabled adults.”

Matt Paine, managing director of Persimmon Homes South Coast, said: “Many charities and organisations are really struggling during this current crisis, so we are delighted to be able to help Diverse Abilities in this way.”

To find out more information Community Champions visit www.persimmonhomes.com/community-champions.

Images supplied by Diverse Abilities.