Yeovil Opportunity Group (YOG), who provide specialist care to pre-school children with additional needs and their families, have recently been awarded a £3,000 grant from Somerset Community Foundation – which includes a contribution from Hidden Needs Trust (HNT).
Rachel Goodfellow, founder and fundraiser at HNT, said: “Hidden Needs Trust was set up to raise awareness of the vital work that the Opportunity Groups in Somerset and Dorset provide, and we are delighted to have donated money towards Yeovil Opportunity Group’s latest bid for funding.”
Rachel continues: “One of our next big fundraisers is a marathon with a difference! I’ll be undertaking it in a specially modified sports wheelchair, for which I’m currently seeking sponsorship. I’m also delighted that Ebony Court, who went to Yeovil Opportunity Group as a child and is now a sprint wheelchair para-athlete, will be accompanying me on the race, which is taking place at Sherborne Summer Festival on Saturday 16 June.”
Grant funding supports most of the running costs at the four Opportunity Groups, which are located in Yeovil, Taunton, Dorchester and Blandford Forum, and the groups rely heavily on donations and fundraising so that they can continue to provide their unique service to children and their parents.
Rachel Goodfellow goes on to say: “I have also written my first book, ‘The Adventures of Y’, which is a fun collection of tales about my autistic daughter and the challenges we face as a family. This will be ready to go into book format later this year, once the illustrations are complete. We’re currently seeking a publisher, so that we can continue to raise more funds for the Opportunity Groups – if anyone can help, please do get in touch!”
For more information about the fundraising Hidden Needs Trust has planned, or to help with sponsorship for the sports wheelchair or finding a publisher for Rachel’s book, you can visit their website: www.hiddenneedstrust.org
If you run a local community project and would like to find out more about grant funding, please call Somerset Community Foundation on: 01749 344949 or visit: www.somersetcf.org.uk