LAW firm staff have helped an Ilkley charity expand its services for people with learning disabilities.

Lawyers at Walker Morris were delighted to provide pro bono corporate support to local charity, Ilkley Community Enterprise Limited (ICE), to enable it to expand its services to people within the town.

ICE is a charity rooted in the local community, which provides help and support to adults and young people with learning disabilities, to enable them to lead more independent and fulfilled lives.

The charity runs a number of community projects, including Outside the Box Café in Ilkley, which was recently voted the best hospitality business in the town, and The Arthouse, which provides courses in arts, craft, music, drama and photography for people with learning disabilities.

Graham Smith, from ICE, said: "People with learning disabilities often struggle to access training and other forms of support.

"At ICE, we try to bridge that gap and enrich their lives by offering them a positive role in the community. For us, people with learning disabilities are at the heart of our organisation."

A Walker Morris team, led by healthcare specialist Jo Stephenson and including Rebecca Austin-Heath, from corporate, and Ian Hartley, from real estate, supported ICE on its recent acquisition of Carers and Companions Limited, an organisation also based in Ilkley, which currently only provides domiciliary care to the elderly.

Mr Smith added: "The acquisition of Carers and Companions will enable us to broaden the range of services we offer to our existing members, particularly those who need help to live at home with their parents or in a supported living environment.

"I would like to thank Jo and her team at Walker Morris for providing us with their expertise. Having access to specialist, legal advice on this acquisition was a tremendous boost."

Managing partner, Ian Gilbert, said: "Being able to come to the café and see first hand what a great organisation this is, and what a difference it makes to the quality of life of the people involved, is truly inspirational.

"Supporting our local community is very important to us at Walker Morris, and I was delighted that through our pro bono programme, we have been able to support the work of Graham and his team."