AN award from the government will help people with disabilities in Ludlow and south Shropshire.

Shropshire Council has been awarded over £2.4m to help people with disabilities live independently in their own homes.

The funding forms part of the £25m government fund announced by health minister David Mowat.

Shropshire was one of 52 councils who were successful in their bid and has received the highest amount – £2,415,000 – out of all bidders from the £25m pot.

Only 15 per cent of adults with learning disabilities in England have a secure long-term tenancy or their own home.

The £25m funding from the Department of Health aims to address this by supporting projects including shared ownership schemes, adapting existing properties with new technology and even building new technologically adapted homes.

There is a growing demand from individuals for this kind of opportunity – hence the recent Department of Health round of funding.

Shropshire’s project will help assist at least 30 adults with learning disabilities to purchase properties through the Government’s ‘Home Ownership for Clients with Long Term Disabilities’ (HOLD) scheme.

Homes will be innovatively designed using assistive technology, allowing individuals to remain independent at home.

The Shropshire project is being supported by My Safe Home, an organisation which supports people with disabilities who want to buy their own home and has been backed by registered social landlords across Shropshire including Wrekin Housing Trust, Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing, Severnside Housing and Shropshire Housing Group.