Support Us
There are many ways you can support the work we do in improving the quality of life for people with learning disabilities. Here are some of the main ways you can help.
Buy Charity Gift Vouchers
You know how hard it is to buy gifts for some people - especially teenagers and men! Well Gift Vouchers are always popular. Now there is a charity that sells gift vouchers online and donates 3% of the value to the charity of your choice.
Simply visit Vouchers 4 Charity and follow the simple online instructions. Vouchers 4 Charity supplies Gift Vouchers for a wide range of stores. Don't forget to add Solihull Leisure Opportunities in the Charity Name box.Be An Advocate
Many companies, community groups, churches, associations and organisations have a policy of supporting local charities. These can take the form of payroll giving, from profits or specific fund raising events and appeals. The chances are your employer, church, club, etc has such a policy. Please tell the people responsible about SoLO and ask them to choose us as a beneficiary.
Gift Aid & Personal Donations
As a tax payer, you can donate money under the governments Gift Aid scheme. This way, not only can you reclaim tax relief on any gift aid donations you make, but the government will add an additional percentage depending on what tax band you are on.
Most of our work relies heavily on voluntary donations to keep it going. Although we receive some funding from social services and local government, all of our projects need extra money to enable them to run. For instance, for every person who attends one of our specialist projects, we have to subsidise the place by between £20 and £30 per person per night.
Under gift aid, even a modest donation could help someone enjoy something most of us take for granted – like a visit to the cinema or a drama workshop – just for a few hours each month.
You can download a standard Gift Aid Form here or contact the office for information on how to give through Gift Aid.
See the HM Treasury web site for information on how to give through Gift Aid.
Contact us and we will tell you how to set up regular giving by direct debit.
As A Volunteer
All of our projects need volunteers. Volunteers can be involved in lots of different ways.
You could take out a person with a learning disability to an activity that they really enjoy – like watching a football match. You could join a group and support a person with learning disabilities by providing their transport and then joining them as a friend at an activity.
You could join a specialist project, working with children or adults with more profound disabilities and support them in enjoying the activities – this might involve helping them move around, helping them make choices, encouraging them to get involved, or assisting with sensory activities. Some activities need volunteers with particular skills – like people who can cook, paint, act, sing, etc.
As A Helper
Not confident about working directly with people with learning disabilities? Don’t worry, there are plenty of other jobs we need help with. Help with admin work in our office is always appreciated. Helping with the logistics of organising our events, like the Holiday Activities.
Get More Information on Volunteering with SoLO
As A Fund Raiser
If you are the sort of person who likes organising events and has a gift in raising money, why not offer to organise a fund raising event – like a pub quiz or sponsored swim. Anything that raises money is always appreciated. And don’t worry, volunteering won't cost you a penny as any legitimate out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed.
Just Giving offers a facility for you to create your own fund raising page to raise money for SoLO. Get Started Now!
As A Paid Support Worker or Project Leader
We are always looking for support workers to assist in the delivery of our services. Our projects run on each evening and on a Saturday afternoon and for some of the summer holidays. We offer decent rates of pay too. Paid supporters however must have some experience of working with children, young people or adults with learning disabilities and references will be asked for.
Contact the office on 0121 788 3469 to find out about current vacancies or e-mail: info@solihullsolo.co.uk