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Improving the choice of support for people with disabilities or mental health problems in Cambridgeshire was put centre stage on 10 November at the launch of a ground-breaking new organisation, The Opportunities Trust. The Opportunities Trust is the first organisation in the UK to be developed to look specifically at the range and quality of support being provided to adults with disabilities. The unique county-wide partnership comprises social care representatives from all sectors, including Cambridgeshire County Council, and charities like the Papworth Trust and Red2Green, as well as private and independent care providers.

By being members of the Trust, local social care providers will receive expert advice and support from the partnership to develop leisure and care activities for people with mental health problems or disabilities. Opportunities Trust members will also be able to network with other social care organisations and work together to fund new services.

Councillor Roy Pegram, County Council Cabinet Member for adults, health and well-being, explained why the County Council is supporting the development of the Opportunities Trust, “The Trust is being created at a time when the County Council is working to give adults with disabilities or mental health problems choice and control over their care. Within the county there are local service providers who want to offer more choice, but are unsure where to start, and this is where the Opportunities Trust will be on hand to give guidance and support.

We are delighted to be part of this new partnership and hope that Cambridgeshire will lead the way in providing good quality and diverse services to adults across the county."

Helena Harris, Head of Learning for Life and Work at Papworth Trust, and co-chair of Opportunities Trust, outlined the benefits for adults with disabilities: “Clients want to know how to find activities to suit them, and whether any organisation they choose is reputable, offering quality, value for money and a safe environment. Organisations which join the Opportunities Trust must demonstrate that, so people with disabilities can select from the Trust’s ‘menu of providers’ with confidence”.

For further information on the Opportunities Trust, please contact Christine Fraser,
Development Officer, on 01480 423056.

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Notes to Editors

About the Papworth Trust: 

Each year the Papworth Trust helps over 13,000 disabled people in the East of England and the UK through a wide range of services covering employment, vocational rehabilitation, housing and community support. 

In using the term disabled we mean anyone who has a long-term health issue, learning difficulty, physical disability, sensory impairment, mental health issue or a combination of these or other impairments. We also mean anyone of any age.
The Trust also works with the Government, employers, service providers and commissioners to promote disability equality and good practice. 

For further information and media opportunities, please contact: 

Kerry Atkinson
E-Communications Executive, Papworth Trust
T: 01480 357263 (direct)
F: 01480 357201
E: kerry.atkinson@papworth.org.uk 

Papworth Trust
Bernard Sunley Centre
Papworth Everard
Cambridge
CB23 3RG
T: 01480 357200
F: 01480 357201
E: info@papworth.org.uk
www.papworth.org.uk
Helpdesk: 0800 952 5000
Charity no. 211234 

Please note that The Papworth Trust is an independent disability charity and is unconnected with the Papworth Hospital NHS Trust.