Bexley Mencap is thrilled to announce the expansion of its highly impactful Healthy Lifestyles programme, which offers an inclusive range of weekly activities such as keep fit, tennis, gardening, football, and social clubs. These activities promote physical health, emotional well-being, and social inclusion for people with learning disabilities.

The need for programmes like Healthy Lifestyles is clear. People with a learning disability are seven times more likely to experience loneliness than the general population, with the pandemic worsening social isolation. Health inequalities are striking, with life expectancy averaging just 63 years for people with learning disabilities compared to 82 for men and 86 for women in the general population.

The Healthy Lifestyles programme addresses these challenges by developing community, building confidence, and improving health outcomes. The £10,000 grant from London Freemasons will enable the charity to expand its programme, reaching more individuals and offering additional opportunities to stay active and engaged.

Kara Lee, CEO at Bexley Mencap said: 

“We are thrilled to have the support of London Freemasons, which will help us reach even more people with learning disabilities.  This funding allows us to expand our programme, ensuring everyone has opportunities to be active, stay healthy, and do the things they enjoy.”

Paul King from London Freemasons said:

“We are proud to support Bexley Mencap with the expansion of their Healthy Lifestyles programme, helping them to fight health inequalities within the community.”