New bike offers independence

Denise is “over the moon” with her new bike which she has bought with a Small Sparks grant from the Discovery Community Fund.

Paula Dowding from the supported employment team helped Denise with her grant application. Paula said:

“Denise couldn’t ride a bike and was trying to learn on a bike suitable for a five year old, which was useless. She wanted to learn to ride a bike so she could be more independent, her parents don’t drive so she only uses the bus or walks and she wanted to access the community more, to go to clubs and evening events. Denise has been in-doors for the whole of lockdown and is very isolated, so learning to ride a bike was very important to her.”

Denise learnt to ride her new bike straight away and she is very proud:

“Mum and Dad didn’t think I could do it, but I have,” she said.

As a social enterprise, Discovery reinvests 50% of any surplus income into community initiatives across Somerset. Our Community Fund awards grants of between £500-£50,000 to projects that support the health and independence of people with learning disabilities in Somerset.