Disability Charity Saved from Closure Following Funding Boost

The Allerdale Disability Association (ADA), a charity located in Moorclose, Workington, Cumbria, which assists hundreds of individuals with disabilities, has been rescued from impending closure. This outcome follows a £61,000 financial injection. The organization had previously disclosed earlier this month that it faced closure due to financial difficulties. Sellafield, the Cumbria Community Foundation, and Cumberland Council subsequently provided emergency funding, ensuring the continuation of services for the upcoming 12 months. Tracey Parker, ADA’s manager, expressed that the charity was “absolutely over the moon” to be able to maintain support for its clients. Nick Wilson, a service user living with complex learning difficulties, had previously described ADA as “vital” for him, stating that the prospect of closure “stopped him in his tracks”. His fiancée, Kelly Stuart, had conveyed that she was “absolutely devastated”. Established in 1976, ADA offers complimentary assistance on matters such as benefits for disabled individuals and functions as a social gathering point for its members. The organization reported facilitating claims totaling £8.4m in benefits during the most recent financial year alone. Furthermore, it noted a 43% increase in the number of people it supports, reaching over 1,900 within the year. Beyond the financial contribution, Sellafield indicated its intention to assist ADA in efforts to “strengthen the organisation,” while Cumbria CVS committed to aiding the charity in securing longer-term funding. Tracey West, senior social impact manager at Sellafield, informed BBC Radio Cumbria that the charity provides “critical services” to some of Sellafield’s employees. She added, “We want to be able to help organisations to keep going and to continue to offer those services.”