A group of Surrey residents who find it challenging to communicate because of their profound and multiple learning disabilities are being helped thanks to a £15,000 grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
 
The grant to the Us in Bus charity will be used to help fund two Interaction Practitioners who will be supporting 86 people, mainly in the Reigate and Banstead areas, who find it very difficult to communicate and connect with the world around them, the majority of whom do not use words to express themselves.
 
The charity provides a weekly interactive session, involving the skilled facilitation of activities that encourage self-expression and builds confidence by providing an opportunity for conversations to be had in a language unique to each person.  The sessions are for people aged between 20 and 90, 40% of whom have no contact with their families.
 
Victoria Goody, Chief Executive of Us in a Bus said: “We are very grateful to the Masonic Charitable Foundation for their generous donation. Us in a Bus depends on donations and fundraising to enable us to provide our unique services to really make a difference to people who have profound and multiple learning disabilities.  I was delighted to welcome Bill Caughie and his fellow Surrey Freemasons so they could see the impact that our work has on people’s lives and the huge importance of their donation."
 
Bill Caughie from Surrey Freemasons said: “We are very pleased to be able to help Us in a Bus, who are doing wonderful work with very vulnerable local people, giving them a chance to communicate in the only way possible for them.”

http://usinabus.org.uk