Minstead Trust

Last year, the residents of Minstead Lodge made a significant transition by moving into their new supported living house in Lyndhurst. Dom, the Residential Manager, reflects on the positive fresh start this has provided for some of the people we support. None of this would have been possible without your kind and generous support. Thank you for helping us make such a meaningful difference in their lives.

Meet Ed, a key member of our talented wood workshop team. He’s one of the brilliant artisans behind the enchanting fairy furniture featured in the shop at Furzey Gardens. Thanks to the generous donations we’ve received this year, including a new woodworking machine and a mini belt sander, Ed and his fellow woodworkers have been able to expand their skills, experiment with new creations, and share their expertise with the entire team. These contributions play a crucial role in fostering creativity and craftsmanship in our workshop.

Today for our 'Thanking Time', our CEO Adam is sharing how your support has been instrumental in shaping our achievements this year. Thanks to you, we've been able to help vulnerable individuals along the south coast lead more independent and fulfilling lives. We are truly grateful for your ongoing support - thank you. https://lnkd.in/eP7P9tRb

Here’s Ken, one of our New Forest Day Opportunities Instructors and George enjoying a peaceful moment in the garden at Minstead Lodge. Gardening offers a wide range of therapeutic benefits. For people like George, it’s an opportunity to stay active, relax in nature, and develop new skills along the way. It’s because of your generous support that we can offer these enriching experiences, helping the people we support thrive in such meaningful and fulfilling ways. Thank you.

From 9-18 September, we're celebrating ‘Thanking Time’ to express our heartfelt gratitude for your incredible support. Whether you've donated, volunteered, taken on a fundraising challenge or visited one of our venues, your contributions have profoundly impacted the lives of over 320 people with learning disabilities. Thanks to you, we're not just meeting basic needs; we're empowering people to pursue their dreams, find jobs, build relationships, and learn new skills. Over the next 10 days, you'll hear from some of the people we support and our dedicated staff, sharing just how much your support means to them. Let's start things off with a heartfelt thank you from Dave and Jordan!

Marc, George and Steve from Aura Technology are gearing up for an exciting challenge this Sunday as they lace up their running shoes for The Big Half — a 13.1-mile journey through London! They’ve been putting in a lot of effort to raise funds for Minstead Trust, and we wish them the very best of luck. If you'd like to contribute to their incredible challenge, please visit: https://buff.ly/3XSVqZ7

We’re thrilled to be the headline sponsor for Mindset Maintenance CIC Live and support this event that’s all about personal growth, self-care and community support. Join us on 1 September at The Guildhall in Portsmouth for a day of inspiration, practical strategies, and well-being. With amazing speakers and a line-up of essential topics, this is an experience you won’t want to miss.  Find out more:  https://lnkd.in/eEYxZ8NF

Last month, we had the pleasure of welcoming George Deacon, Darren Coleman-Heald, Malcolm Lloyd, and Terry and Carol Nye to Minstead Lodge following an exceptionally generous donation of £7,057 from the Mark Benevolent Fund. During their visit, they enjoyed a guided tour of the New Forest Day Opportunities workshops, led by some of the people we support, followed by a trip to Furzey Gardens. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for their incredible kindness and generosity.

We want to extend a huge thank you to Milestone Infrastructure for generously donating their time and resources over the past few days. Their efforts in improving road safety at Minstead Lodge by filling potholes in the driveway, installing a new speed bump, painting a zebra crossing, and putting up stop signs are greatly appreciated—especially in this heat! 

We support Mencap's statement on the Government's plans for fair pay in social care (from slide four onwards).   Funding for improved training and wages for social care staff is long overdue.    We hope this agreement will be the start of improved recognition and reward for staff that provide vital and life-changing support every day of the year.