Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, welcomes the news that Hailsham-based charity Bird Aid has received £19,968 from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Bird Aid has a rescue and rehabilitation centre specialising in gulls, as well as a charity shop and community cafe in Hailsham. They encourage volunteers from all sections of the community, but especially invests in adults with a learning disability to have opportunities to be involved in animal welfare, retail and hospitality.
The funding from the National Lottery for Bird Aid aims to develop local employment opportunities for adults with a learning disability in the area, whilst also raising awareness of the barriers that can occur when engaging with the wider community.
Between November 2023 and February 2024, The National Lottery Community Fund awarded £44,288 overall to community projects in Wealden. Alongside Bird Aid, the Groombridge Film Society, Natureways-Therapy and The Sandcastle Trust were also successful in securing funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Other previous successful recipients in Wealden included Hailsham Music Theatre, the Mount Camphill Community in Wadhurst, MAYFACS, Lymley Wood Community Interest Company in Mayfield and Artytime in Crowborough.
Nusrat Ghani said: “Wealden has brilliant grassroots projects providing fantastic support to local residents in all manner of ways. I am delighted that over £44k of funding by the National Lottery Community Fund will be awarded between 4 community organisations in Wealden."