A bishop who pulled on his running shoes last year in aid of the Fircroft Trust has backed their appeal to keep adults with learning difficulties together.

Rt Rev Richard Cheetham, the patron of the trust, ran in the British 10k Run last year alongside his daughter Sarah and raised £305.

Fircroft Trust has already bought the derelict White Hart pub in Hook but the Kingston Guardian is backing the Building Potential Campaign to raise the £1m they need to build their dream home for those with learning difficulties.

A new home for people like John, who was forced to move out of his home when he became wheelchair bound, David Stanley Scott, who has donated his collection of vintage football kits to the appeal, and Sally, whose elderly parents want to see her looked after in the future, would finally seem them able to live in a modern home with lifts, single rooms and space to move wheelchairs around.

Rt Rev Cheetham said: "I think one of the measures of a good society is how it cares for its most vulnerable members and therefore the quality of that care needs to be as good as we can possibly make it.

"It is not just one way because anybody that works with Fircroft residents realises they gain as much from them as they might be giving in support.

"There has always been a very positive atmosphere in the homes.

"The project to move to this new development is designed to make sure their accomodation is as good as it can be and meets their needs as they grow older, but also with the potential of further young people in the future."

"This is a local charity that has served people with learning disabilities with good quality accomodation since 1891 and this project is absolutely necessary in terms of the particular environment and care needs in the future."

He said: "I haven’t got anything planned at the moment. But I might do another run for them.

"It will be absolutely wonderful to see a purpose built home provided for a wonderful group of people."

• To support the Building Potential campaign, call 0208 399 1772 or visit the website at thefircrofttrust.org