UK Healthcare workers have new charitable way to protect adults and children with learning disabilities from abuse

Social workers and staff in the healthcare sector are being offered an easy way to pledge money to a national charity dedicated to the protection of adults and children with learning disabilities from the risk of abuse.

Donations to the Ann Craft Trust can now be regularly pledged through payroll giving — where donors have their donation taken straight from their pay packet every month. These donations are eligible for tax relief too so, for example, a monthly pledge of £10 would only cost the donor £7.80 in real terms.

As many as 60 per cent of all people with learning disabilities may experience sexual, physical, emotional and financial abuse at some point in their lives, according to some studies undertaken in the last 15 years.

The Ann Craft Trust, based at The University of Nottingham, works with organizations that provide day-to-day support to people with learning disabilities, including housing, health and personal care, education and social services to help reduce the risk of abuse of this vulnerable group of people.

It acts as an important contact point for a wide range of people and organizations throughout the UK dealing with cases of abuse — supporting parents, carers, professionals and people with learning disabilities.

The charity’s training packages help it to pass on its expertise to other organizations and are constantly updated to reflect the latest developments in national policy and good practice.

The charity undertakes new research to ensure that the services it provides are well-informed and that awareness of abuse is raised across the UK. Research has included the development of support models for parents with learning disabilities, an investigation into adolescents with learning disabilities who offend and the abuse of disabled children.

The charity is given office space from The University of Nottingham but receives no further financial support and relies on charitable donations to fund its research, training and advice and information services.

People wishing to sign up for payroll giving can contact The Ann Craft Trust on +44 (0)115 951 5400 or by e-mail at [email protected] More details about the trust are available on the web at www.anncrafttrust.org