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Thera Trust – a charity that provides care, support and services for people with a learning disability – has partnered with Triodos Bank UK for the fourth time to raise capital through a bond.
Here, Matthew Smith from Thera Trust explains how securing crowdfunding investment has helped the charity.
How and why did Thera Trust come about?
Matthew Smith, Group Director at Thera Trust
Historically, many people with a learning disability have lived as inpatients at institutions and long-stay hospitals. This restricted people’s choices and the ability to lead their own lives as equal citizens in their local communities. Thera Trust was set up in 1998 to support people with a learning disability to move on from institutional care, integrate into wider society, and have more control over their lives.
We wanted to empower people to make important decisions, such as where and who they live with, and who supports them. Part of our mission is also helping people with a learning disability to be part of the many communities within which they do and could belong.
We started supporting five people in Cambridgeshire in their own home, and now support over 3,000 people across England and Scotland.
Can you explain more about the different approach Thera Trust takes in support of people with a learning disability?
We employ people with lived experience of a learning disability in director positions across the Trust. This ensures that everything we do is focused on the needs of people with a learning disability. It also aligns with our vision: to show that people with a learning disability can be leaders in our society.
Thera was the first company in the country, that we know of, to employ someone as a paid director who has a learning disability. We now employ 12 paid leaders with a lived experience.
In addition to our unique leadership model, we offer more than just care and support; our specialist companies help people to have control in other areas of their lives, including housing, relationships, employment, and finances.
Thera Trust runs a scheme called Gig Buddies which allow the people it supports to attend local events. Credit: Thera Trust.
Triodos has raised funds for Thera before, what have those funds helped achieve?
Money raised through the Triodos Crowdfunding platform is used to support the continued growth of the charity, enabling it to continue to provide high-quality bespoke support.
There are so many inspiring stories of where we’ve helped change the lives of people we support. For example, in 2021, Alison was looking to move out of her family home and Chloe was living in a shared house that was no longer working for her. Their parents knew each other and got talking about a house move for their daughters. Both women were in their twenties, used a wheelchair and had a variety of health and care needs.
Chloe, Alison, and their parents worked with us to find the right house, which was made possible by the funds raised through Triodos. In Autumn 2021, they found a bungalow in a quiet area with ready access to local transport and shops. The inside layout needed redesigning to meet their individual needs, which was achieved with input from the women, their families, and the staff team with the expertise of Forward Housing and Occupational Therapy Services.
The house was ready a few months later and Chloe and Alison moved in at the beginning of April 2022. Both women now enjoy spending time in the garden, using the hot tub and socialising with friends and family. They love living in their home – as they’ve helped choose it and it’s designed with their individual needs in mind.
For more inspiring stories, visit the Thera Trust website.
Thera Trust ensures that the people it supports can take part in activities which they enjoy and enrich their skillsets. Credit: Thera Trust.
What are your hopes for the future of Thera Trust’s important work?
We aim to continue demonstrating our vision – that people with a learning disability can be leaders in society. Through developing the support we offer to people with a learning disability, and expanding our offering to more areas, we can enable people to be leaders both in their own lives and in their local communities.
Learn more about Triodos Crowdfunding
The Thera Trust charity bond offer is open on the Triodos crowdfunding platform. The bond has a 7.25 per cent annual interest rate and the minimum investment amount is £50. Payment of interest and capital repayment are not guaranteed. To find out more about this offer and other investments offers from UK organisations working for positive social and environmental change, visit the Triodos crowdfunding platform.
It’s important to note that all investments offered on the Triodos crowdfunding platform are high-risk. They are usually for a set period of time, and may be difficult to sell, and there is a risk that investors could lose money.
This financial promotion was approved on 10 January 2024 by Triodos Bank UK Limited, registered in England and Wales with number 11379025. Registered Office: Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 817008.
