MP boosts campaign as charity fights to stay afloat

FROME’S MP has launched a campaign to save a local disability charity as it faces a ‘severe funding crisis’.

David Warburton MP has launched a campaign to save Frome-based charity Openstorytellers. The appeal aims to raise awareness and vital funds for the organisation, which faces closure within weeks unless new revenue streams can be found.

Founded in 2004 by speech and language therapist Dr Nicola Grove, Openstorytellers aims to enrich and empower the lives of people living with learning and communication difficulties.

The charity’s work is centred around the telling and sharing of stories, using a collaborative approach based on specialist research and pioneering practice.

David Warburton MP said, “For twelve years, Openstorytellers has made an immeasurable difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities, helping them develop communications skills, form relationships, build confidence, establish independence, and challenge social exclusion to fully participate in society.

“Its vital that those living with learning and communication disabilities are made to feel understood, valued and included – Openstorytellers plays an enormous part in achieving this.

“We should be proud that such an important project is based right here in Frome but they’re facing a severe funding crisis and unless urgent action is taken to raise vital funds, we could lose Openstorytellers for good, which would be a catastrophic loss.”

Co-run by people with a learning disability, Openstorytellers provides vital and unique opportunities to people with similar disabilities.  Through an innovative approach which uses stories to play a major role in building relationships and a personal sense of identity, the charity has developed a portfolio of innovative day services, courses, workshops, activities and events that helps hundreds of people every year.

The charity has a full programme of activities planned and booked for the new year, but is facing a short-term financial crunch.  They are therefore looking for sponsorship, support, or any kind of financial assistance from local business or individuals to carry them over this short-term hurdle.

Originally supported by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD), Openstorytellers became a charity in its own right in 2009.

To contact the charity call 01373 471171 during business hours.