GATEWAY, a self advocacy service for people with learning disabilities, is looking forward to a brighter future thanks to a much-needed cash boost. Based at the Mosses Centre on Cecil Street, Bury, Gateway is celebrating after being awarded a £148,173 grant over three years from the National Lottery Charities Board.

The successful bid means the voluntary organisation, which has now been running for 17 years, can recruit and train more volunteers as well as employ extra staff to expand its services.

Leader and co-founder of Gateway, Mrs Margaret Barker, was delighted with the news.

"We are thrilled with the money. It means that we can now expand our services and meet the needs of the growing membership."

The group of around 110 members aged between 14 and 70 meets once a week. Mrs Barker explained how the weekly meetings allow people with learning disabilities to develop lasting friendships outside the family unit. "Often people with learning disabilities go to a day centre and are just stuck at home in the evenings. Gateway allows them to get out and meet other people."

They organise a number of events throughout the year, from outdoor activity weekends in the Lake District to two weeks in Florida.

"Many of our new members are too scared to try things," said Mrs Barker. "Gateway shows them that they can do things such as rock climbing or canoeing because they know they have the support of the group."

Since it began in 1982 with 40 members, Gateway has continued to grow.

Now organisers are hoping to arrange more sessions during the week and offer more support for the members with the Lottery money.

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