A total of 100 older carers who look after people with learning disabilities will be given help and support, thanks to a grant of £52,000 to the Reach Learning Disability charity from Nottinghamshire Freemasons.

There are more than 15,000 people with learning disabilities in Nottinghamshire, with many of them looked after by carers aged 50 to 80.

Reach, which has centres in Mansfield, Southwell and Newark, plans to help carers form social networks, with informal drop-in sessions and subsidised massage and reflexology sessions. One-to-one support will be available for those who need it.

The grant from Nottinghamshire Freemasons came through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends.

Julia Sandhu, fundraising director of Reach, said: “We’re very grateful to Nottinghamshire Freemasons for their generous grant, which will allow us to help a hundred older carers, many of whom are in their 70s and 80s.

“These are people who have dedicated their lives to looking after a family member who can sometimes have multiple health issues. They carry on, many with financial difficulties, often with little or no assistance from anyone else. Reach aims to give them the support they need.”

Philip Marshall, head of Nottinghamshire Freemasons, said: “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help Reach Learning Disability, who do truly outstanding work across the county, supporting people with learning disabilities and those who care for them.

“These carers are older people who often lead very lonely lives, devoted to looking after a family member and Reach is there for them.”

Family carer Peter Good (pictured with his daughter, Sarah), said: “As Sarah’s dad I don’t always think of myself as a carer. You’re just doing the best you can for your son or daughter from day to day.

“But getting the right support makes all the difference. Even faced with all the challenges at the moment, you don’t have to be alone.

“It’s wonderful that Nottinghamshire Freemasons have given Reach a grant to support older carers. This project will help bring people together in new ways and that’s needed more than ever now.”

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