A RESIDENTIAL home for people with learning disabilities is to benefit from a £200,000 donation from the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

Some of the cash will go towards the HFT charity's £800,000 Later Life appeal to refurbish and adapt facilities at its Frocester Manor site in Stonehouse.

The charity provides services for over 1,000 people in supported living, registered care homes, advocacy, supported employment and day services throughout the country.

More than 100 of its clients are related to members of the RAF and the RAFBF has provided support to HFT for 20 years.

"We are extremely grateful to the RAFBF for its continuous support," said Kerensa McKeever, HFT trust manager.

"This recent donation is a tremendous contribution towards our current work for people with learning disabilities nationwide and to the Frocester Later Life Appeal."

The £800,000Later Life campaign was launched by Princess Anne, HFT patron, in June this year.

HFT established its first residential home on the Frocester site in 1962. It is unusual in that nearly 70 per cent of residents have lived there for more than 30 years.

HFT is making special adaptations to its existing accommodation to meet the needs of these 32 people with learning disabilities who have expressed a strong wish to remain there as they become older.

The Manor House, which is the main house in the service, has been refurbished together with its annexe where a 10 bedded ground floor Mobility and High Support Needs unit has been established.

The existing bungalow in the grounds and the day services buildings are also being refurbished with outside pathways being upgraded and ramps installed for wheelchair access.