The Aldingbourne Trust
The Aldingbourne Trust’s mission
The Aldingbourne Trust supports adults with learning disabilities and Autism to live meaningful lives as independently as possible. Its support includes accommodation, social enterprise, training and employment, drop in advice and guidance. The charity currently helps around 2,000 people a year.
How will the donation be used?
According to the Trust, 60% of the 361 adults they support with learning disabilities and autism report that independent travel is a major barrier for them. Therefore, this donation will be spent on establishing a Travel Training programme to support these individuals who are building employability skills and working towards employment.
What impact is the donation expected to have?
The Trust expects around 30 people to directly benefit from the travel training over the next year but anticipates this number to be much larger in the long term. By investing in independent travel skills, the programme creates a powerful ripple effect – transforming not only employability outcomes but also overall quality of life, independence, and social connectedness.
The Trust anticipates the training will:
- Remove one of the biggest barriers to work: the ability to travel independently
- Increase confidence, self-esteem and social inclusion
- Enable participants to take up opportunities they previously felt were out of reach
- Strengthen community participation through volunteering and paid employment
- Reduce long‑term dependency on support services and family carers
- Contribute to a more inclusive workforce and society.
“This funding will allow our charity to make a huge difference to the people we support. The ability to travel can often be hard and this money will allow us to expand our vital work in supporting people to overcome this barrier and become more independent, thus providing greater stability, opportunity and hope for individuals and their families who rely on us. We are incredibly grateful for this investment in our ongoing work and the real impact it will make to people’s lives.”
Martin Ford The Aldingbourne Trust
“I nominated Aldingbourne Trust because of the excellent work they do to equip people in the local community with the confidence and skills needed to live their life to their full potential. The funds will support a project that helps people with learning disabilities, autism or brain injuries develop the skills they need to move into employment. It’s a fantastic charity.”
BETH GARROD
Associate Solicitor, Irwin Mitchell
“I nominated the Aldingbourne Trust because they are a charity local to Chichester which leads government and other charities in relation to the support of people with brain injury, learning difficulties and autism in a very wide range of ways. The charity provides opportunities for training for employment and independent living. To date the Trust has supported over 1500 people and their families, and 1367 jobs have been obtained through supported employment. I am privileged to be a trustee of the Trust and am immensely proud of the work it does.”
PAULA JAMES
Partner (now retired)
“The Aldingbourne Trust delivers exceptional, life-changing support for adults and young people with learning disabilities across West Sussex. Their focus on independence, employment, and community inclusion aligns strongly with Irwin Mitchell’s values. Nominating them for a donation from the IMCF recognises their impactful work and helps sustain vital services that empower individuals to lead fulfilling, meaningful, and connected lives within their communities.”
Sarah Fraser
Certified Chartered Accountant, Irwin Mitchell