Asda Foundation donates Spaces and Places grant of £25,000 to Belfast charity

Community champion Jane Duff from our Westwood store surprised the team at Space Care and Respite Services CIC (SEN) with a life-changing £25,000 from the Asda Foundation which will help people with disabilities and their families engage with the community.

The grant is part of the Asda Foundations investment of £750,000 in 60 local community groups and charities across the UK, with the aim of transforming community spaces and places, after customers said the cost-of-living crisis has impacted their social and community interaction.

The £25,000 will allow the group to provide changing facilities and equipment to help regulate kids with disabilities, provide family facilities, encourage social engagement, and create opportunities for these children and their families.

Jane said: "I was over the moon when I received the news about the funding, SEN really deserved this and the £25,000 will provide so many opportunities for the community and genuinely change the lives of those involved.

"SEN is so unbelievably passionate about doing what they do**,**they want to create moments of happiness, fulfilment, understanding and acceptance and they want children and adults with additional needs to experience a happy life with opportunity in a safe and need specific environment.

"This funding will allow these kids and adults to experience the quality of life they deserve. I am thrilled for them as this funding means so much to the team and will make a massive difference."

Vikki Benton, founder and CEO of SEN Space, said: "I cannot put into words how much this funding means to everyone here at SEN Space, we are so delighted and overwhelmed. We do this for the kids, and I can’t help but get emotional when I think about how this funding is going to positively impact them.

"By investing in SEN, the Asda Foundation is allowing us to support families who have kids with disabilities. We sometimes feel like no one understands how complex and challenging life can be however, Asda has taken this into consideration and this massive act of kindness will genuinely change the lives of so many families in Northern Ireland."