A LEARNING disability service will transform its outdoor space after receiving a 'generous grant'.

Hwb Cyfle, a day opportunities service in Deeside run by national learning disability charity Hft, has been awarded £15,000 transform its outdoor space and encourage people to come together and enjoy the great outdoors.

The grant was donated by Postcode Local Trust, a grant giving charity funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, to develop a garden project that will enhance the lives of the people it supports.

It will provide people with learning disabilities with the opportunity to design, create and maintain the unique space. Once built, the garden will become a multipurpose natural area where people supported at the service can enjoy sensory stimulation and get closer to nature.

For those with green fingers or culinary aspirations, the scheme will also offer the chance to plant, cultivate, harvest, cook and eat fresh fruit and vegetables.

As well as building skills and supporting learning for people with disabilities, the garden will be opened up to members of the community, local primary schools and volunteer-led gardening group Digging Deeside, who will maintain the area as part of their work with people with mental health conditions. Additional funding for the initiative has been provided by celebrity hairdresser Andrew Collinge and haircare brand TIGI, who have lent their support by taking on a range of fundraising activities.

Jordan Smith, Regional Manager at Hft, said: "We’re delighted to be receiving this incredibly generous grant, which will create opportunities that will make a huge difference to the people we support at Hwb Cyfle.

"Spending time outdoors is important to everyone, and we’re so excited to have a dedicated space where people with learning disabilities can enjoy some fresh air, learn valuable new skills and socialise.

"We’ll also be working with the community to strengthen relationships and to support healthy living for all. Staff and people at Hwb Cyfle are already looking forward to picking up their spades and getting in touch with nature."

The community project aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people supported at Hwb Cyfle, a state of the art day opportunities service which opened its doors in 2019.

Inspiration for the garden arose following the success of Tri Fford, Hft’s prizewinning gardening group which supplies handcrafted horticultural goods to local people and businesses. Staff plan to use the improved outdoor area to provide opportunities for skill development and enterprise, while also encouraging the community to connect with one another.

Katherine Sellar, Community Programmes Advisor at People’s Postcode Lottery, added: “It’s not just players who win with People’s Postcode Lottery – local good causes like Hwb Cyfle do too.

“I’m delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery have been able to support this project, which will give lots of different people in the community the opportunity to benefit from getting outdoors and hands on with nature.”

Work on the garden is due to begin soon, aiming to be ready in time for spring. Plans are in place to transform the space, with specially designed features including wheelchair-accessible raised beds for growing plants and vegetables.

Hft currently supports more than 2,500 people with learning disabilities across the country. This includes supporting people with learning disabilities to live independently in their own homes, providing employment services to help people develop skills and experience for work and helping people to pursue hobbies, make new friends and get involved in their local communities.