Getting active

Funding of £2,000, raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery, is helping Bexley Mencap, a small, local Bexley-based charity focused entirely on supporting people with learning disabilities and their families in leading more active and independent lives.

Support from players means Bexley Mencap is able to offer access to sporting activities and provide important advice on cooking healthy meals to people within the local community.

Kara Lee, CEO of Bexley Mencap, said, "We provide support and opportunities to people with learning disabilities and offer a huge range of groups to help our members live independently in the community.

"Support from players of People's Postcode Lottery has been invaluable in helping us start the new healthy lifestyles group and we've got one member who's just hit a five stone weight loss, so it's having a tremendous impact on the lives of the people involved."

Lee is a Bexley Mencap member who is taking an active part within the new group.

He said: "I've been coming to Mencap for two years and it's great being part of a team. I've made loads of friends and it feels like one big happy family.

"The new healthy lifestyle group is amazing. I never really used to do anything and just used to doss about, but the new group gets me out and about and I've become much healthier."

Postcode Lottery ambassador Jeff Brazier praised the charity, saying:

"What a fantastic day we had visiting everyone at Bexley Mencap. The charity is doing great work to help make the community stronger and helping change people's lives for the better.

"Getting to see how the funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery is being used first-hand was amazing, and we even managed to squeeze in a few games of football and rounders, so it was smiles all round!"