A WILTSHIRE charity that supports disabled people to live independent lives has received a national award of £15,000 for its work.

Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living (Wiltshire CIL) was presented with a GSK Impact Leaders Award at a high-profile ceremony at London’s Science Museum.

Geraldine Bentley, Chief Executive Officer of Wiltshire CIL, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Wilts CIL to continue to develop our leadership and dedicated service provision, to ensure that we are at the forefront of delivering the right service to the people we serve in Wiltshire.

“Through this support we will continue to improve and challenge ourselves as an organisation in terms of our ‘offer’ to people.

“It is important to us that service users contribute to the way we work ensuring all of Wiltshire CIL services are appropriate to what people want to lead a fully independent and purposeful life in Wiltshire.”

The Devizes-based charity supports independent living for those with learning difficulties, frailty of old age, mental health issues, physical and sensory impairments and long-term conditions.

Services include one-to-one support, peer support, workshops, and training.

The organisation is involved in a number of areas of work including direct payment support, supporting young disabled people to re-imagine their future, community development and user engagement.

From over 36 charities nationwide who applied to be part of GSK’s Impact Leaders Award, Wiltshire CIL is one of only four winners.

The award will support Wiltshire CIL with the opportunity to test new ideas, push boundaries, share learning, bring parts of health and social care together and pioneer new approaches.

The GSK Impact Leaders Awards is in partnership with The King’s Fund and it is seen as a mark of achievement in the charity sector.

In addition to the £15,000 they receive in unrestricted funding, winning organisations are able to access coaching, leadership development, and networking opportunities through a dedicated programme organised by The King’s Fund.