An organisation helping people with learning disabilities in mid-Essex is celebrating a big boost in lottery funding.

Witham Citizen Advocacy (WCA) has been awarded £44,693 by the Big Lottery Fund to help its expansion into Braintree and Halstead.

The advocacy is a partnership between two people: the partner, a person with a learning disability, who may be excluded from the mainstream of life, and the citizen advocate, a volunteer who builds a long-term relationship and breaks down social barriers to help them enjoy a full and satisfying life.

Jackie Martin, WCA co-ordinator and mayor of Witham, said: "Now we've got enough money for three years for a part-time co-ordinator for our Braintree project, which will cover Braintree and Halstead, so it's excellent news and an achievement for our small organisation."

Published Thursday, October 7, 2004

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