WESC Foundation are announced as Legacy recipients

The Exeter Foundation is pleased to announce that the recipients of the first £50,000 Legacy Grant Fund are the WESC Foundation, The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment.

Dozens of worthy applications were received by the Exeter Foundation for the grant, but WESC was eventually chosen to receive the funds with their bid to adapt two new transition houses in Exeter especially for visually impaired young people.

On receipt of the grant, Mark Cornfield, Deputy Principal and Director of Finance and Resources said: “We are extremely thankful for Exeter Foundation’s grant as it will help us improve the lives of visually impaired young people which is what WESC is all about.”

The announcement was made at the Grand Reopening of Sandy Park, an evening to celebrate the reopening of award-winning venue Sandy Park following its £10 million refurbishment over the summer.

The Exeter Foundation also presented over £50,000 to the organisations which raised money at Exeter Chiefs’ home games over the 2013/14 season.

Speaking about the Legacy Project, Exeter Foundation Trustee Michael Caines said: “Exeter Foundation has worked with WESC for some years now. They put in the time and effort on match days and long-term commitment has been shown by the charity. I think that’s really important.

“This is a legacy that will be around for many years and we are delighted to support it.”

The Legacy Project was developed to aid a project that would assist the community in enhancing the future prosperity of the area, relieve of poverty, advance education, involve the care of the elderly, sick or infirm, support disadvantaged children and families, and promotes physical, intellectual, social and spiritual well-being of individuals.

The panel, made up of Express & Echo editor JP Hedge, Chief Executive of Exeter Chiefs and Trustee of the Exeter Foundation Tony Rowe, and celebrity chef and Trustee of the Exeter Foundation Michael Caines, decided that the WESC Foundation’s two new transition house project matched the criteria.

WESC Foundation purchased the houses, which are based at the new Rydon’s Estate. The houses will both be adapted with specialist equipment to make them accessible for young people to live as independently as possible.

The Exeter Foundation legacy grant will pay for around half of the total costs to convert both houses.