Freemason’s Provide £60,000 to Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

Nov 5

1 min read

Leicestershire Freemasons recently visited the VASL (Voluntary Action South Leicestershire) team in Market Harborough to provide a grant of £60,000 to support 48 carers and people living with Dementia.

The project being supported by the grant is Carers Dementia Guardians (CGD) which provides weekly support sessions plus advice, advocacy and key work support. Volunteers provide wellbeing support, links to services and social activities and practical tasks such as hanging the washing, organising online shopping, accessing an Energy Consultant to assist with their home's energy efficiency, and making a room dementia friendly. It is an existing service managed by a Project Coordinator responsible for referrals, assessments, matching volunteers and overseeing group supervision so volunteers gain peer and staff support.

VASL’s mission is to improve and enrich the lives of vulnerable people mainly in the Harborough district. Supporting around 4,800 people a year with a small team and around 180 volunteers from the local community is a testament to the extended reach VASL has achieved.

VASL provides services such as befriending and learning opportunities for isolated older people, transport for older, disabled, or rurally isolated people, mental well-being support for people with mild to moderate mental health conditions, and Leicestershire-wide Support for Carers.

Last year, VASL worked with 3,061 people, providing 6,272 hours of advice, information, and support.