A historic west London charity can do more to support adults with learning disabilities – thanks to new funding from the capital’s biggest independent grant giver.

Bishop Creighton House, in Fulham, was founded more than 100 years ago in memory of former historian and Bishop of London Mandell Creighton, and today runs services for older people, disabled adults, children and young families.

The charity has received a £74,500 grant from City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charity funder, to employ two learning disability outreach co-ordinators.

They are leading activities including advice and support, creative workshops, health and wellbeing sessions and social events for learning disabled adults from across Hammersmith & Fulham.

City Bridge Trust Chairman Giles Shilson said:

“For over a century, Bishop Creighton House has been at the heart of its community in west London, doing sterling work providing services to support vulnerable adults, older people and children.

“This project will help people improve their skills, boost their health and wellbeing and become more independent, enabling them to enjoy the social connections which are so important to good quality of life.”

Activities being offered under the scheme include Tai Chi, gardening sessions and art and craft workshops, along with advice and support on issues such as mental health and housing, social activities and telephone befriending.

The charity says its services to support learning disabled adults have been needed more than ever as a result of the disruption and uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

Bishop Creighton House Outreach Co-ordinator Joe Robins said:

“Covid has been hard on all of us but for people with learning disabilities it’s been particularly overwhelming. It goes without saying that everyday practicalities such as shopping, medical appointments and managing prescriptions have become significantly harder to manage.

“However the effects of continuously changing advice as well as the strong language being emitted from various media sources have compounded the sense of confusion that many learning disabled people experience on a daily basis.

“Social contact is absolutely key and something as simple as having a nice chat, taking part in a social activity or learning a new skill can have a really positive impact and make such a difference to people’s lives.”

More information about Bishop Creighton House is at www.creightonhouse.org

The City of London Corporation’s charity funder, City Bridge Trust, is London’s biggest independent grant giver, making grants of over £25 million a year to tackle disadvantage across the capital – www.citybridgetrust.org.uk

Case study

Tara, from Fulham has been coming to Bishop Creighton House since 2012.

She said: “I come to lots of their workshops, like art, Tai Chi and literacy lessons. I really like all the people who come to them and teach them. I have made lots of friends and learned lots of new things like reading and maths. I also have a mentor – she is very nice to talk to and helps me if I have a problem. If I didn’t have Bishop Creighton House I would just be at home and bored and lonely.”

Fernan, from Fulham has been coming to Bishop Creighton House since 2011.

He said: “The project has helped me with a lot of things recently that were hard for me to do, like organising my medication to be delivered and attending an online medical appointment, which without their help is confusing and difficult and I could not have done.

“I have also been to their wellbeing workshops they have run and coffee mornings. I enjoyed them and they helped me feel more relaxed and get out and see people, which cheered me up.”

Picture captions

- Tara has been attending Bishop Creighton House since 2012 and enjoys art, Tai Chi and literacy sessions

- Fernan has attended since 2011 and received help organising his medications and medical appointments

- Charlotte at a Christmas Card making session

- Freddie with his Christmas card

- Tamaz with his Christmas card

- City Bridge Trust Chairman Giles Shilson

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

The City Corporation is the sole trustee of Bridge Houses Estates, a charity founded in 1097 to maintain London Bridge, and Members of its Court of Common Council form the Bridge House Estates Board.

Bridge House Estates is now responsible for maintaining Tower, London, Southwark, Millennium and Blackfriars Bridges, and its grants team, City Bridge Trust – founded in 1995 – gives out over £25 million a year to good causes across the capital – www.citybridgetrust.org.uk

Tim Fletcher | Media officer – public services

City of London Corporation

07738 862229 | tim.fletcher@cityoflondon.gov.uk

http://news.cityoflondon.gov.uk