Minstead Trust

This winter, our annual Big Give fundraiser is back! Our ‘Kick Start My Life’ appeal aims to empower young people with learning disabilities who are trying to navigate life after college. As always, every donation up to our target will be instantly doubled at no extra cost! Donate from 3 December – midday 10 December to help provide young people with critical skills, confidence, and guidance to step into adulthood. We’ll be sharing some inspiring stories in the weeks leading up to the Big Give, but for now, why not learn more at: https://buff.ly/3Uy72xV

Today, we’re reflecting on the incredible successes we've achieved together over the past year. Thanks to your support, we’re helping more people than ever before lead independent, happy, and healthy lives. To explore more of this year’s highlights, you can view our full 2023-2024 annual report here: https://buff.ly/410DyuW

Hot off the press from the Minstead Enquirer team: their very special autumn edition! Written, planned and collated by talented journalists with learning disabilities. A truly pioneering publication. The news team have run their own newspaper for 18 months, and now they have gone professional. They visited the hugely supportive Hobbs printers in Totton on Tuesday to see the final copies being printed. If you're visiting any of our venues in the next two weeks then grab yourself a copy to see articles from all the team on subjects that they are passionate about. Another step in showing that if people with learning disabilities are given a chance they can achieve wonderful things... Want to see a digital copy? Head to https://buff.ly/3UjRTAm

Since our theft two weeks ago, your kindness has lifted spirits and reminded everyone we support how valued they are within their community. Thanks to generous donations - over £45,000 so far - as well as gifts of equipment and time, we are well on our way back. We asked a couple of the people we support for their reaction to the kind gifts: Matt was especially pleased to get back to work and said, ‘Thank you for all the new tools and for bringing back all the noise!’ Simon said: ‘I like these things, very nice, trying to get them all to work properly and safely.’ Thank you for standing by us during this challenging time; your support means the world to us.

Well, what a remarkable week. If last week was one of upset and worry, this week has been one of uplifting community spirit. Thank you to every person who has donated, everyone who has offered equipment, all those who sent kind words, and the businesses who are helping us. Together you have helped turn this situation around, raised over £30,000 and meant that the shortfall we are facing is hugely reduced. We will find time to thank you all personally in the coming weeks, but for now please accept this as a huge thank you from all of us at Minstead Trust. We can now look forward to continuing to support people to live the life they choose. For an uplifting watch showing the situation you have helped sort, watch the ITV piece at https://lnkd.in/eA5q82VE

Wow - we have been overwhelmed by your support since last night's TV coverage of the burglary. You can watch the BBC South Today report below. We have been inundated with donations, offers of equipment and kind words. It means an enormous amount to us - thank you. Our donation page remains open at https://buff.ly/3YeFGiT and we will make sure we update you on the total and our next steps as we replenish our lost equipment in the coming weeks. The reaction to this terrible act has shown us how kind and generous people really are.

It's hard to feel down when so many people, and local companies and community groups have wrapped their arms around Minstead Trust . It makes all the difference.

Your support after last week's theft has been incredible. More than 160 of you have helped raise £10,000 so far. This still leaves us a long, long way short of the shortfall we are facing but to have such support from our community is very special - thank you. To keep the momentum going, Robert, Liam, Simon and others are doing a great job with ITV Meridian this morning, with BBC South Today still to visit at lunchtime. Watch out at 6 and 6.30pm this evening to see the pieces and please keep spreading the word and supporting at https://buff.ly/3YeFGiT

Thank you so much for all your supportive comments and donations since we let you know about the theft - it's meant a lot to us at a difficult time. We're pleased to see the story being covered by the BBC and elsewhere and hope that this will lead to more people offering their support. It makes a huge difference. If you are able to make a financial contribution of any size you can still do so at https://buff.ly/3YeFGiT

Adam, our CEO, has some sad news to share with you: We were victims of a break-in at Minstead Lodge last week that saw thieves steal vehicles and tools worth over £50,000. It has left many of the people we support feeling angry, upset or unsettled - including Liam, Dave, Kevin and Marc pictured here. While our insurance will go some way to covering costs, there will inevitably be a significant shortfall, as well as extra security costs. If anyone feels moved to help us with a financial contribution to cover these unplanned costs, I would be hugely grateful. You can support now at https://buff.ly/3YeFGiT Thank you as always for your support in helping us bring positivity and change to the world, even in difficult times.