Living Options Devon receives £20,000 funding to help local Deaf and disabled community to become more active

Living Options Devon is delighted to have received £20,000 in funding from the Peter Harrison Foundation. The fund will be used to support people with disabilities and Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users to become more active, and engage in sports and physical activity.

The Peter Harrison Foundation was founded by Peter Harrison KGCN CBE in April 1999, since then the foundation has awarded nearly £50m to projects across the UK.

The new funding will play a key part in the launch and roll out of Living Options Devon ‘Get Active Together’ programme. The programme, which begins in January will build on the success of the popular Deaf Get Active project, and will encourage physical activity and sports participation through volunteer based peer support and an accessible online community. 

Living Options Devon CEO, Diana Crump said: “We are delighted to receive this support from the Peter Harrison Foundation. The new ‘Get Active Together’ programme will develop a group of volunteer buddies and provide our local disabled and Deaf community with access to information, resources and encouragement to be active in a safe and accessible way.

As well the physical health benefits, the project will help people to feel more connected to their local communities, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation. This is something which we know which has become especially heightened following the Covid pandemic. It is thanks to the support of funders, such as the Peter Harrison Foundation that we are able to provide such exciting projects and look forward to Get Active Together taking shape and growing over the coming months.”

If you live in Devon, have a disability and/or are a Deaf BSL user and would like more information about the Get Active Together programme or would like to register as a volunteer, please contact the Living Options Devon Hub team on 01392 459222 or email info@livingoptions.org