2023 Charity Applications

ACORNS CHILDREN’S HOSPICE

ADDRESS

ACORNS CHILDREN’S HOSPICE, DRAKES COURT, ALCESTER ROAD, WYTHALL, BIRMINGHAM, B47 6JR

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“When the unimaginable happens and a child is diagnosed with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, Acorns is there. We help families cope at every stage of their child’s life and beyond.

At Acorns we understand what families are going through. We’re here for them through all life’s

FUNDING

“Acorns Children’s Hospice is a registered charity. We need around £10 million per year to run our care services.

Fundraising and generous donations from the local community provide around 60% or £6 million of the

ups and downs, sharing laughter in the good times, and standing alongside them in the tough times. Our dedicated teams provide highly specialist care for children and young people and support for their whole family.

This support is offered from our three hospices, based in Worcester,

Birmingham and Walsall, and in the community.”

funds we need to continue our lifeline care and support.

Income from Clinical Commissioning Groups and other statutory bodies represents a contribution of around 35% towards the total cost of our children’s hospice care.

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

Acorns Children’s Hospice is a registered charity. We need around £10 million per year to run our care services.

Fundraising and generous donations from the local community provide around 60% or £6 million of the funds we need to continue our lifeline care and support.

Income from Clinical Commissioning Groups and other statutory bodies

represents a contribution of around 35% towards the total cost of our children’s hospice care.

We also have a network of charity shops which generate around £1.1 million net profit each year.

We also have a network of charity shops which generate around £1.1 million net profit each year.”

CARE LEUKAEMIA

ADDRESS

CURE LEUKAEMIA, PO BOX 18280, SOLIHULL B90 9NA GEOGRAPHICAL REACH UK

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“Founded in 2003, Cure Leukaemia works with the sole aim of eradicating blood cancer within a generation by funding the Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) across 12 specialist centres across the UK. This integrated and collaborative network consists of 12 specialist research nurses in 12 of the UK’s biggest cities and a facilitatory Hub based at the Centre for Clinical Haematology in Birmingham.

FUNDING

We are a not-for-profit national blood cancer charity with all of our funding being generated privately –we do not receive any Government funding. We rely entirely on fundraising events and donations from our generous supporters and Cure Leukaemia family. Previously,

This network enables the accelerated setup, recruitment to and delivery of pioneering blood cancer clinical trials connecting patients from a catchment area of over 20 million people with potentially life-saving treatments not currently available through standard care.

Clinical trials can typically take many years however the TAP network makes it possible to set-up

trials in under a year, thus offering critically ill blood cancer patients an improved chance of survival.”

we have held charitable partnerships with the likes of Warwickshire County Cricket Club and still to this date have a strong relationship with the likes of Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott.

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

We are a not-for-profit national blood cancer charity with all of our funding being generated privately –we do not receive any Government funding. We rely entirely on fundraising events and donations from our generous supporters and Cure Leukaemia family. Previously, we have held charitable partnerships with the likes of Warwickshire County Cricket Club and still to this date have a strong relationship with the likes of Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott.

CROSSROADS CARING FOR CARERS

ADDRESS

CROSSROADS CARING FOR CARERS WORCESTERSHIRE. WEIR LANE, LOWER WICK, WORCESTER. WR2 4AY

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

WORCESTER, KIDDERMINSTER, EVESHAM, PERSHORE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“Crossroads’ main purpose is to provide practical support to carers responsible for the care of adults or older people at home, who have a physical/sensory disability, learning disability or who suffer with their mental health or are chronically ill. A carer’s life is often restricted by the need to be on call 24 hours a day because the person they look

FUNDING

“Crossroads’ main purpose is to provide practical support to carers responsible for the care of adults or older people at home, who have a physical/sensory disability, learning disability or who suffer with their mental health or are chronically ill. A carer’s life is often restricted by

after cannot be safely left alone for long periods. Carers are often under a great deal of physical and emotional strain through the demanding work of caring for someone heavily dependent upon them. They might also be trying to hold down a paid job as well as having other family commitments.”

the need to be on call 24 hours a day because the person they look after cannot be safely left alone for long periods. Carers are often under a great deal of physical and emotional strain through the demanding work of caring for someone heavily dependent upon them. They might

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“Due to long term under funding of social care and recruitment difficulties, we are selling our office in order that our charity of almost 40 years, can continue providing care and support to the people we support and their family-based carers. This, to say the least, has been a traumatic and heart rendering decision. We need to sell the office to be able to survive for hopefully a few more years. Smaller not-for-profit charities like

Crossroads Caring for Carers often get overlooked. We cannot afford to employ fundraisers like many other charities can. We provide a much loved and valued service for people in their own home. We need help so we can continue to offer and even expand our services. Your generosity would improve our ability to advertise for more staff and provide even more breaks to carers.

We have a fascinating television

also be trying to hold down a paid job as well as having other family commitments.”

history too which may help with people understanding who we are and where we come from - I can send you further details if you like. We also have an information point (a telephone box) in Powick which I would like to talk to you about please to see if you can help with my ideas to raise awareness.”

BEREAVEMENT CHARITY

ADDRESS

EDWARD’S TRUST, NO. 3 VICARAGE ROAD, EDGBASTON, BIRMINGHAM, B15 3ES

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

WEST MIDLANDS

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“Edward’s Trust support children, young people and families facing loss and surviving bereavement, and have been doing so for 33 years.

We offer a holistic approach to supporting people through bereavement and loss. We offer counselling, support groups, play therapy, wellbeing therapies and social events. We are also able to offer resources and training for

FUNDING

“Sadly, we do not receive any statutory funding from local Government or NHS, even though families are referred to us via the NHS.

We have to rely on the generosity of our supporters and various income streams:

those wanting to support people in their grief journey.

We offer support to:

Parents bereaved of their baby or child – whatever the age or circumstance.

Children and young people aged between 4 – 24 years bereaved of a parent, sibling, grandparent, significant other Bereaved parents/carers of a child

- Charitable Trusts - Community Support - Corporate Support - Events Income

It costs us around £580,000 per year to keep our specialist bereavement services running to

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“Choosing Edward’s Trust as a Charity partner would help massively in the following ways:

- Raising awareness of our specialist bereavement work

- Fundraising in order for Edward’s Trust to continue our vital service to bereaved families across the West Midlands

- Grief can be a very lonely and isolating place, Edward’s Trust allow families to manage their grief and rebuild their lives. We help them to smile again.

- The real cost of bereavement support:

£10 – Pays for craft materials for a child to express their emotions through our Creative Expression of Grief Project

£50 – Pays for one individual, private counselling session for a parent £200 – Provides ‘similar-loss’ support groups for bereaved adults & children

£220 – Funds our Wellbeing in bereavement support for each parent

or young person who is currently accessing support through Edward’s Trust and who also require support with their grief. We also offer, advice, support, information and training to professionals working with bereaved families.”

support families across the whole of the West Midlands.”

£350 – Supports one child through our School’s Outreach programme

£1,000 – Supports a bereaved child through their counselling programme £2,500 – Funds a residential respite bereavement retreat for parents

The Covid pandemic has sadly had a major impact on our bereavement services, the need for our services is greater and we have to work harder to meet the demands of bereaved families across the West Midlands.”

FRIENDS OF FORT ROYAL COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL

ADDRESS

FORT ROYAL COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL WYLDS LANE, WORCESTER, WR5 1DR

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

WORCESTERSHIRE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

We support the work of this primary school which caters for 249 children from across Worcestershire with special education/ physical needs, who may be on the autistic spectrum, have life limited illnesses or chromosome disorders.

FUNDING

We apply to charities & organisations for specific help for our children to support the school whose local authority funding is not sufficient . We provide the extra funds needed to provide the children with the best possible start in their educational journey.Outdoor

learning, is a huge part of our curriculum & sensory opportunities and individual equipment for the children a must. In conjunction with the Headteacher & staff we work to enhance the school for all our children.

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

We have a sensory lending library for parents to access free of charge which constantly needs upgrading. We have also just donated 17k to help create two new sensory rooms for the benefit of more complex needs children. Our funds are now depleted but we need more donations to help equip these new areas.

HEART HEROES

ADDRESS

REDWELL HOUSE, MATSON LANE GLOUCESTER, GL4 6DX

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

GLOUCESTERSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE, SOUTH WALES, OXFORD, BRISTOL, SOMERSET AND DEVON

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

Heart Heroes (HH) are currently supporting 213 families across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and South Wales alone, affected by a life limiting or life-threatening Heart Condition. We offer specialist activities and events for critically vulnerable children and their families, encouraging peer support and inclusivity so that no family faces their difficult journey alone. We provide emotional, physical and mental health support by offering the following activities:-Events suitable for affected

FUNDING

“Heart Heroes do not receive any Statutory funding, and rely solely on income from Trusts and Grants along with community fundraising, events and corporate partners.

ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS

children to take part in as equals and feel normal–‘heart ‘children often struggle with shortness of breath, low stamina and poor immunity. -Shared support networks for parents, developing practical understanding of condition show to manage care and improving mental health and wellbeing. As one parent commented “Friends at HH just get it. Their events take the pressure off explaining to people.”

-Support to disadvantaged families by providing specialist equipment or days out for families that are unable

to afford it.

-Offer regular or as-needed virtual/ in person counselling sessions.

-A Patient Journey folder developed in collaboration with patients, parents and staff at Bristol Children’s Hospital, Cardiac Ward. This eases stress and anxiety children may have during lengthy appointments and admissions by providing activities, visual tours and cartoon-like paediatricians to explain procedures in a fun, engaging way.

Events can vary from community fundraisers, to challenge events and our annual charity ball

Corporate partnerships is really important to us, how we can

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“We have an ongoing I CAN programme which offers a diverse range of activities, allowing children and their families to take part in inclusive activities to celebrate abilities, not disabilities.

As part of this, we run an I CAN be active programme where we offer physical activities suitable for all levels of ability and health. Some children do not take part in any

physical activity due to their health condition - we encourage that they take part somehow, whether that be bowling the ball in cricket, or simply walking.

If we were to be successful and partner with Worcestershire County Cricket Club, we would like to raise more awareness in Worcestershire of the support we provide as we currently know there are over 100

support our partners in return for their continues support, which can be from team building, event sponsorship, wellbeing through volunteering and skill sharing”

families alone in Worcestershire with a heart child, and we want to increase the support we provide in the area and offer our I-CAN programme on a more regular basis, and working with you to offer such inclusive activities for these children and their siblings to enjoy together

Celebrating abilities not their disabilities”

KIDDERMINSTER & WORCESTERSHIRE PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP ADDRESS

13 CONINGSBY DRIVE, KIDDERMINSTER WORCS, DY11 5LU

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

WORCESTERSHIRE, BRIDGNORTH AND DUDLEY

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

Kidderminster & Worcestershire

Prostate Cancer Support Group (KWPCSG), founded in 2000, is now one of the oldest and largest (470 members) in the UK. It provides support to anyone in

FUNDING

Worcestershire who has been diagnosed with PC and also their families and partners. We offer a buddy system to all members, assist with hospital transport and assign trained support contacts who keep in touch by telephone.

We raise awareness about PC through our meetings, magazine and website. Its important role in the community was recognised in 2017 when it became the only PCSG to be presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

KWPCSG is 100% self-funded and receives no external grants. It relies entirely on membership fees (just £5 annually), fund-raising events (e.g. Bewdley Tractor Rally, Pershore Plum Fayre), donations from groups and societies (e.g. Chaddesley Corbett CCC, Rainbow Trust Cleobury Mortimer),

Pershore Mayoral Trust, Rotary and Round Table groups and individual donations. We finance our own website development and a quarterly 24-page magazine posted directly to all our members. We network GP surgeries and community hubs and hold 6 open events (also available on YouTube)

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“KWPCSG has been a driving force behind the recent deployment of robotic surgery by WAHT. The support group contributed £ 90,000 of the £ 450,000 raised and, in 2022, donated £ 6000 for SABR compressors now in use at WRH.

In February 2022 PCUK and NHS England launched a nationwide campaign to find the 14,000 men untreated since the beginning of Covid. KWPCSG is ready to devote 2023 to its own campaign, entitled Missing Men, to track down the

hundreds of Worcestershire men still undiagnosed and in danger of allowing a treatable disease to become an incurable one. 740 men were diagnosed with PC in Worcestershire in 2019 but just 420 in 2021.

The campaign is about awarenessraising. It involves PSA testing events across the county (including New Road?), open events in Kidderminster and Pershore and a number of Coffee & Chat sessions, including in Evesham, Tenbury Wells, Alvechurch and Upton.

and 6 Coffee & Chat events across the county each year.

We believe Worcestershire CCC, with links to every county cricket club and a positive profile in every community, would be our perfect partners. A presence on the WCCC website, a social media campaign shared with WCCC and events at New Road fir perfectly into our aspirations for 2023. We want to save lives, especially in the AfroCaribbean community where 1 in 4 men will develop PC, and WCCC could be a major part of this initiative.”

LORD’S TAVERNERS WEST MIDLANDS REGION

ADDRESS 90 CHANCERY LANE LONDON, WC2A 1EU

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH WEST MIDLANDS

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

The Lord’s Taverners is the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity. Its charitable objective is to give young people a sporting chance. The charity was founded in 1950 by a group of actors and BBC employees led by John Mills, Jack Hawkins and Brian Johnston among others. Headquarters are located in London with the support of over 50 regions and over 5000 members. Every year the Taverners donates

FUNDING

We are funded through annual subscriptions from our members, through fundraising events, dinners, lunches, celebrity cricket matches, concerts, etc. Around 10,000 people would normally attend Xmas events organised by the Taverners across the UK each year. A substantial amount of our revenue includes private donations, sponsoring

over £3 million to help young people of all abilities and backgrounds to participate in sporting activities across its charitable programmes, which include Table Cricket played on a table tennis table, Wheelchair sports, Sports Kit Recycling. Wicketz, a cricket programme that aims to support young people in disadvantaged areas of the UK and Super 1’s a programme providing opportunities for disabled young people aged 12-25.

particular events or by making us a beneficiary of their estate in their will.

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

Worcestershire County Cricket Club has had a long relationship with the Lord’s Taverners and in supporting children from special needs schools to engage in cricket. In June 2022 nearly 100 children from six special needs schools took part in disability cricket activities on the pitch at New Road supported by coaches and volunteers funded by the Lord’s Taverners. Earlier this year approval was granted for the World’s first disability cricket centre, for all forms of the game developed

by several partners including the Lord’s Taverners, ECB and the University of Worcester, a very exciting project. Worcestershire are very supportive of the Lord’s Taverners Wicketz and Super 1’s programmes and the ever popular Table Cricket. I believe that over the 2023 season Worcestershire could raise the profile of the Lord’s Taverners in the West Midlands Region and any donations could increase the provision of cricketing opportunities for disabled and

disadvantaged children in the region. During indoor Wicketz sessions at Edgbaston I have attended Lifeskills Workshops, some involving workers from The Children’s Society who have engaged with the young people in discussing the dangers of joining gangs and carrying weapons on a regular basis. I believe more of these sessions could be funded on a ‘one off’ basis via donations from Worcestershire.

MARIE CURIE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity, here to support people through all aspects of dying, death and bereavement – and to fight for a society where everyone gets to have the best experience possible at the end of their lives. Marie Curie is here to help the UK talk, plan and prepare, to get things sorted in advance. Our nurses, hospices and support line officers are on the front line to help people, along with their family and

FUNDING

“WCCC could help us care and support for people living with a terminal illness, and their families, across Worcestershire. We believe everyone should be able to get the most from the time they have left, however hard that may sometimes feel.

friends, through their final years, months, days and hours of life. Our bereavement service is there for loved ones.

Everything we do depends on generous donations from our supporters. Around two-thirds of the money we spend each year comes from the people, companies and trusts who decide to support us. The remaining third comes from the NHS.

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“Your donations will help our Marie Curie Nurses, Hospices and Support Line. Our services help people to stay out of hospital, relieving pressure on the NHS. Our 75 years of experience means we know what it is to die well. Our Marie Curie staff are experts in their fields, carrying a wealth of knowledge and a passion for making sure everyone gets the best possible support. If Coronavirus has taught us one thing, it’s that there’s only one chance to get death right. Our bereavement service gives

much-needed support for any of your staff, players and supporters going through grief and we are the leading funder of research into better ways of caring for people with a terminal illness and at the end of life. Our Workplace Bereavement hub is an important resource for all and offers practical ways to support staff and to help them support each other.

Fundraising at Marie Curie is fun, interactive and flexible. We are keen to evolve and adapt to the best approach for our partners and

Without help like yours, we wouldn’t be able to provide vital care and support to people living with a terminal illness.”

have developed easy-to-use assets and materials to engage your staff. There is strong evidence of the link between volunteering and improved mental health and wellbeing.”

MIDLANDS AIR AMBULANCE

ADDRESS

HAWTHORN HOUSE, DUDLEY ROAD STOURBRIDGE, WEST MIDLANDS, DY9 8BQ

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

WEST MIDLANDS, WORCESTERSHIRE, GLOUCESTER SHIRE, HEREFORDSHIRE, SHROPSHIRE, STAFFORD SHIRE.

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“Our mission is to provide outstanding pre-hospital care and lifesaving early intervention through the operation of helicopter-led emergency medical services.

We operate three helicopters and three critical care cars from our airbases in Worcestershire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. The airbases are strategically located to ensure we reach patients across the region in just ten minutes

FUNDING

“MAAC does not receive funding from the Government or National Lottery for its daily missions so relies entirely on the support and generosity of local people and businesses.

Each year it costs in excess of £11 million to maintain the provision of

Our crew consists of critical care paramedics and pre-hospital emergency medicine doctors, together they bring specialist equipment and advanced medication which means we can take the hospital to the scene of the incident, helping to increase survival rates.

MAAC responds to some of the most traumatic incidents including sports-related injuries and road

ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS

traffic collisions, as well as severe medical emergencies such as cardiac arrests, heart attacks and strokes.”

our lifesaving service.

MAAC is currently attending on average, 12 missions a day across the whole of the air ambulance operating patch.

In 2022, our crews have attended

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“Your support will help fund air ambulance missions which on average cost £2,950 and critical care car missions which cost £288 on average.

Your donations will also enable MAAC to purchase vital equipment for our clinical teams including:

Flight suit = £511 Ventilator = £10,150 Life pack = £18,275 (to include heart monitor, defibrillator, oxygen etc.)

Helmet = £1,860 Safety boots = £100

High vis jacket = £250 Response bag = £2250

Additional potential areas of support

Assist MAAC with rolling out CPR and Bleed control training to the network of grass roots cricket clubs and schools across the region. Your support will help us to increase the impact of providing CPR training within the local community.

an average of 3 calls a day in Worcestershire, 21 a week. An evidence-based decision was taken to operate the Worcestershire car from 2pm – 2am, resulting in an increase in the number of incidents our crew can attend.”

Host a ‘Go Four Red’ cricket day to coincide with a T20 fixture, comprising of the players and crowd wearing something red, MAAC logo on players shirts etc, a great opportunity to raise funds and increase awareness for the charity.

Host a Business Networking event, providing an opportunity for MAAC to connect with the area’s business community. Helping MAAC to increase corporate revenue and develop new commercial partnerships”

NATIONAL STAR

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“National Star is a charitable provider of education, personal development, care, accommodation and support services for young people and adults with complex disabilities and learning difficulties. We have been depended on for 55 years.

My son, Luke was six weeks old

FUNDING

“Most young people are funded by their local authority to receive care, therapy and education whilst at National Star. As a charity we rely on fundraising to provide equipment, resources and facilities that are used every day to support the young people’s development and progress

when a scan revealed significant brain damage. He had cerebral palsy. Now at 23. He’s achieving far more than I ever thought possible. There is nowhere else like National Star. The things they offer just can’t be found anywhere else. Sarah, Lukes mum”

towards their goals.

Examples:

• Equipment in the pool used during aqua therapy to help reduce pain and increase mobility.

• Building specialist residential accommodation that

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“A partnership with WCC would help raise the profile of National Star within Worcestershire and further afield. We are excited to be welcoming our first regional fundraiser to your area. Their role will be to develop relationships within the communities of Herefordshire and Worcestershire to the benefit of National Star learners and residents. As well as looking for financial support for the charity we will also be looking to

work with local business to find work placements for our students. Each September we welcome a new cohort of students as they begin their college journey at National Star. National Star in Hereford increased its student numbers last September to help cater for the growing demand.

Also in Malvern, National Star also has a long-term living home for four adults under 65 years. All residents

enables privacy and gives space for wheelchair users to manoeuvre easily.

• Sensory areas to provide stimulation, allowing individuals to self-regulate and work towards developing their ability to communicate confidently.”

have complex disabilities but are supported to enjoy the things they like to do.

Donations received through the partnership will help to ensure we have the right equipment and resources to meet the needs of the young people and adults that rely on National Star.

Thank you for reading this application. If you have any further questions, please let me know.”

NEWLIFE THE CHARITY FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

ADDRESS

NEWLIFE THE CHARITY FOR DISABLED CHILDREN, NEWLIFE CENTRE, HEMLOCK WAY, CANNOCK WS11 7GF

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH UK

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

We are a disability charity supporting children and families across Worcestershire and the UK. We are the largest charitable provider of equipment for disabled and terminally ill children and we have two unique loan schemes to provide specialist equipment to families in crisis and specialist toys to help children learn through play.

FUNDING

Newlife generates the majority of its income through our commercial operation - which involves the recycling and re-use of no longer required/surplus clothes, shoes, bags and home furnishings that are given to us by leading retailers across the UK and Europe. We sell

We also operate a free, nurse led helpline helping families during times of crisis to find the support they need.

this stock in our retail stores across the West Midlands, East Midlands, North West and the South West as well as on online platforms. All profit from this operation is spent on our charitable aims. The vast majority (around 80%) of our staff are engaged in commercial

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“There are 1.1 million children in the UK living with disabilities, but tragically half a million of them do not have the disability equipment they need. Many families are unable to afford specialist equipment with it being estimated that it costs up to three times more to raise a disabled child. Research from Scope estimates it costs an extra £581 a month to raise a disabled child and for almost a quarter of families extra costs amount to over £1,000

a month1. These high costs result in many families living in poverty, in fact nearly half of everyone in poverty in the UK currently is either disabled or living with a disabled person2.

Specialist equipment for disabled children is particularly expensive with beds costing £4,000-£8,000. Statutory services have equipment waiting times that are years long in many areas and families just do not have the means to buy the disability

activity so staff costs count for a high proportion of the commercial operation expenditure.

equipment they need.

In the last 12 months, we have helped 17 families In the Worcestershire region access the specialist equipment they need. We have also loaned 20 boxes of specialist toys to disabled and terminally Ill children, helping the to experience the joy of play.”

WILLIAMSON HOUSE, 14 CHARLES STREET, WORCESTER WR1 2AQ

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH WORCESTERSHIRE AND HEREFORDSHIRE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

Onside is a charity with over 29 years’ experience of delivering innovative, life enhancing services to vulnerable and disadvantaged adults and children.

Stemming from a belief that everyone has the right to be a valued human being and to be treated in a just and fair manner, our advocacy services in Herefordshire & Worcestershire

FUNDING

The majority of our funding is through contracts with local authorities, the NHS and Primary Care Networks to deliver specific

enable disadvantaged adults to have their voices heard. Across Worcestershire our work with children, young people and families particularly those in hard-to-reach groups and with complex needs reduces inequalities, improves mental health and wellbeing, increases physical activity and supports healthier, happier lifestyles. Over 8,500 people benefit each year.

services and outcomes to selected groups of people. These contracts are secured through competitive tendering processes usually every

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

The Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis have left an increasing number of children, young people and adults we see feeling vulnerable, anxious and stressed:

• Children and young people who need a listening ear and practical tools and techniques to prevent their emotional distress escalating into self-harm and suicide ideation.

• Older people and those with ongoing health conditions who lack the confidence to return to their normal activities feeling increasingly isolated and disconnected from their communities

• Working families and those traditionally on low incomes, struggling to make ends meet

Donations and support from WCCC could help to

• Deliver activity sessions providing children and young people with techniques to build resilience and coping strategies. Our Wellbeing Team are already in touch with the WCCC Community Team

• Fund additional support to older people and those with health conditions to access opportunities in the community to meet others and

3-5 years. In the year 2021/22, less than 1% of our income was generated from fundraising activities and donations.

build confidence

• Provide meals at our Mix cafe to struggling families and workshops on cooking healthy meals on a budget

• Increase our Access Fund which provides small amounts of money to make big changes e.g. paying for a child to attend an out of school activity

• Recruit more volunteers through your connections and reach

PRIMROSE HOSPICE

ADDRESS

PRIMROSE HOSPICE, ST GODWALDS ROAD, BROMSGROVE, WORCESTERSHIRE, B60 3BW

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

NORTH-EAST WORCESTERSHIRE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

Primrose Hospice provides free, expert care and support to over 1100 adults each year living with an end-of-life prognosis as well as supporting 3600 family members. We endeavour to improve patients’ quality of life and well-being, helping everyone live as fully as they can to the end of their lives. We focus on the comprehensive care of patients with a terminal illnesses i.e. Parkinson’s, Motor

FUNDING

“There can be an assumption that end-of-life care and family support is funded by the NHS. However, Primrose receives only 13p out of every £1 needed from the government. The rest of the £1.5m funding needed to provide free clinical and emotional care has to come from our community.

For over 35 years our community has helped raise these funds by supporting our

Neurone Diseases, COPD, Cancer, along with co-morbid diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia. We provide emotional and social support for children and young people, coping with the actual, or impending death of a family member, or other significant people in their life. We are also the region’s provider of sudden death bereavement and counselling for children who have lost

charitable retail shops, a joint hospice lottery, events and corporate challenges as well as partnerships with organisations such as yourselves.

There is no other provider in our region offering a one-stop shop for patients and families that not only take care of the clinical side but in these ever increasingly uncertain times also offers free Family and Benefits

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“An example of our care is that a recent Marie Curie report states ‘There is a NHS backlog of 26 months of diagnosis and treatment to return to pre covid levels and that there are around 50,000 people missing a treatable cancer diagnosis’. When adding to this figure the other terminal illness diagnoses that have been missed, we are expecting to see an increase of around 370 patient per year at the hospice. Many of these additional patients are of a younger profile, someone that has both parents to care for and younger children to support. It is vital to be able to support these patients as soon as they receive their diagnosis so they can continue to enjoy quality family life for as long as possible and in many cases stay in employment for longer and importantly respect their wishes to stay out of the hospital.

Though tested by recent lockdowns, Primrose also flourished as we developed new ways to support people, by redefining what we do and how we offered it through our one-stop shop hospice. By doing this we reduced the number of visits a patient has to make to different appointments by combining clinics into one visit, ie Clinical and Specialist Care, with Physio and Occupational Therapy reducing the amount of time a patient has to spend and by combining the family’s emotional and practical support within one set of streamlined appointments the family can spend more quality time at home. The patient and family can receive free transport, if necessary, from one of our volunteers, and the whole family can access bereavement

counselling, benefits and financial advice such as dealing with Mortgage, Health and Life Insurance, access to adapted living equipment grants, mobility and blue badge schemes. The appointments are tailored to the individual needs as the illness progresses and we can facilitate difficult conversations such as telling the children, parents’ wider family, wills and funeral plans.

We want to be able to offer patients access to our services as soon as they are diagnosed. MacMillan’s research states that ‘ Patients that access quality palliative care are more able to deal with the physical and emotional pain of dying, and family members who access hospice bereavement support pre and post death will experience better short and long term mental health wellbeing.

Another is that loneliness and social isolation can be huge factors once a family receives a terminal diagnosis, as can be financial worries and constraints when the patient and or partner may have to forgo work due to illness or to become a carer. Our one-stop-shop means we can help support the patient every step of the way. There are no average costs of care for a patient and their family as each presents a unique set of circumstances, but £4000 would equate to one weekday hospice nursing support. Your support would pay for clinical care in our day hospice where a patient sees all their specialists in one visit, and receives Physio and Occupational Therapy, it would support them in attending pain management clinics, enable them to join peer support groups, their families and

a parent, sibling or close family member suddenly through road and work accidents or medically e.g. heart attack, stroke, sepsis and for those who lose somebody through suicide or violent non-accidental deaths.

advice to anyone suffering a bereavement. During covid, all our events were cancelled and our shops had to close, we are still suffering as families face both donor fatigue and financial pressures, your support would change this and allow us to reach more people to tell them how we can help them through bereavement and terminal illness.”

children would be able to access pre and post bereavement counselling, financial and benefit advice.

Each year over 400 members of the community volunteer throughout the hospice and one of these vital roles is the driver/ befriender, this ensures that no patient is unable to access the clinics or support groups as and when they need it. Worcestershire; though home to large conurbations such as Redditch and Bromsgrove is also very rural and it would be impossible both physically and financially for these patients to access our support without this service. Again, your support would our drivers to cover 300 average journeys to and from the hospice. During a recent survey a family said the following “”What you give families like us is humbling and amazing. You are amazing. You are clarity strength integrity, humour, love, trust and care when the world is going mad. You make a difference. If there is a good way to die, and I now know from experience there is, then it’s with your support.” If we were able to partner with Worcestershire County Cricket Club, together we can go on providing our community the palliative care they need as and when they need it.”

REES FOUNDATION

ADDRESS

THE REES FOUNDATION, CRAFTSMAN HOUSE, DE SALIS DRIVE, HAMPTON LOVETT, DROITWICH, WORCESTERSHIRE, WR9 0QE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“Rees Foundation was founded by Jan Rees OBE, a foster carer who has devoted over 40 years of her life to the care of children and young people in the UK.

Jan’s vision is that people leaving care have support networks in place once they have left the care system.

FUNDING

Some of our funding comes via grant funding from The Welland Trust, a Charity registered in England and Wales 1181775. We gratefully accept donations from organisations and individuals looking to support our cause. And we generate income from commissioned projects and

Rees Foundation offers help and advice to care experienced individuals and are always here to listen. We run a number of projects that hopefully can make a real difference to care experienced people of any age and want to celebrate any and all personal and professional achievements.”

services.

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“Donations would be used to help care experienced people in crisis who require urgent financial support.

We would really like to raise the profile of the Rees Foundation, which will enable more care experienced people to find us.

We are a Worcestershire based charity and one service we offer is accommodation in the local area as

part of our mentoring project. We sometimes struggle to advertise this accommodation and would love a bigger platform to enable us to do that.

Some of the care experienced people we support would love to be able to take a trip to the cricket ground and meet some of their heroes.

The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer

Trust referred to the fantastic networking opportunities they were exposed to and something like this would be incredibly beneficial to the Rees Foundation.”

SIGHT CONCERN WORCESTERSHIRE

ADDRESS

THE BRADBURY CENTRE, 2 SANSOME WALK, WORCESTER, WR1 1LH

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

WORCESTERSHIRE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

Sight Concern Worcestershire is a longstanding charity supporting people with vision impairment (VI) since the 1800s. We are the only local charity doing this. There are at least 24000 people affected by sight loss Worcestershire, almost 4% of the population. It is anticipated that there will be an increase of 24% over the next

FUNDING

We are usually reliant on grant funding and fundraising for the different elements of our services. We have been fortunate to have benefited from some generous legacies which have maintained our services throughout the pandemic but we are now at the stage at which

decade. Whether a person is born without sight or loses their sight, the impact is significant and affects every aspect of life. We are a hub for providing practical and emotional support related to sight loss, walking every step of a person’s sight loss journey with them.

we need to start applying for further grant funding and to consider how we can fundraise in a challenging economic environment.

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

We are usually reliant on grant funding and fundraising for the different elements of our services. We have been fortunate to have benefited from some generous legacies which have maintained our services throughout the pandemic but we are now at the stage at which we need to start applying for further grant funding and to consider how we can fundraise in a challenging economic environment.

SPECTRUM DAYS

ADDRESS

OLD COACH ROAD, DROITWICH WORCESTERSHIRE, WR9 8BB

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

Spectrum Days provides frontline services to people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and their families. People with PMLD are the most disabled in our community and can be as dependent in adulthood as at birth. We provide support in the home, community or at Days, a safe, stimulating, accessible

FUNDING

“Capital Items

The cost of equipment, building development and resources are covered through fundraising efforts, both through Trusts and Charities, events, etc.

· Funding applications

Donations

environment, with specially adapted resources and equipment. We provide a range of activities are bespoke to the individual, with therapeutic routines built into the day. These bespoke solutions around the family, allow the individual to flourish and sustain the family unit.

Community Giving

Core costs

Running costs such as wages and utility costs are covered by the payments received for the service.

Spectrum Days is paid for in a

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“Spectrum days is a lifeline for our 30 members and their families. Although we cover Worcestershire, but we are underrepresented in the community. This limits the range of opportunities for raising awareness of the charity and much needed funds.

Our beneficiaries are families like Jim’s. Jim has support with all aspects of living due to physical disability, visual impairment. He and has good understanding, but it is

difficult for others to understand what he is saying.

Despite all these difficulties Jim loves being involved in social activities and has been part of the Cricket Club community for 4 years. He benefits physically, socially and emotionally from taking part in the range of group activities we hold at Days, such as Dance and Zumba. These are very important to all our membership but will be affected by the cost of living squeeze. It is

number of ways:

· A personal health budget is for NHS healthcare and support needs.

A personal budget is for social care and support needs.

· Split budgets between social care and NHS.”

imperative core costs are covered, which means we need to economise in other areas, such as activities.

Being the charity partner for Worcestershire County Cricket Club would present a wealth of possibilities, a fantastic opportunity to introduce this under-represented charity to a new audience. Any donations would fund activities and sustain this charity through the current crisis.”

ST PAUL’S HOSTEL

ADDRESS TALLOW HILL, HILBOROUGH, WORCESTER

WORCESTERSHIRE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“Our mission is ‘to help people live through homelessness in order that they have a place where they belong’

We support men & women, aged 18+ experiencing homelessness, some of the most vulnerable members of society. Our delivery model gives focus beyond their housing crisis; with specialist

FUNDING

“circa 72% of our Income comes from Enhanced Housing Benefit & non eligible rent (residents rent contribution)

The remainder of our income comes from Donations, Grants & Trust funding and other Fundraising activities.”

staff helping them to understand, address and better manage the reasons behind it, using trauma as the lens through which we look to understand why someone arrives at our door.”

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“St Paul’s delivers a number of programmes that support or residents on their journey of recovery and reintegration into a community from which that have become isolated. Our services include a Counselling, Mindfulness and Well-being programme, a Kitchen Assistant Training programme, Bike Maintenance & Repair and Peer Mentoring programme. Our Trauma Informed model of delivery is unique, and we are the only high tolerance hostel in Worcestershire. We also operate

a Points Reward Scheme which encourages residents to do purpose things with their time, earning points in return. Although the points have a monetary value they are not given in cash, rather a voucher for essential items or used to offset any rent arrears they have. 100% of all funds raised with go to the direct benefit of people who are experiencing homelessness.”

THE FRIENDS OF ALDERMAN KNIGHT SCHOOL

ADDRESS

ALDERMAN KNIGHT SCHOOL, ASHCHURCH ROAD TEWKESBURY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, GL20 8JJ

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

GLOUCESTERSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE & HEREFORDSHIRE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“We provide extra support for the SEN school to enhance the pupils learning experiences and provide other materials not funded through the school budgets. We also provide extra-curricular activities and trip support for the school, be this extra funding or transport requirements. We also provide annual family

FUNDING

“We provide extra support for the SEN school to enhance the pupils learning experiences and provide other materials not funded through the school budgets. We also provide extra-curricular activities and trip

events and trip for all pupils and families to attend in safe and secure environments.”

support for the school, be this extra funding or transport requirements. We also provide annual family events and trip for all pupils and families to attend in safe and secure environments.”

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

The club can help in supporting the work that we currently carry out and now that the school has expanded to over 200 pupils more resources are required to maintain the same level of support for the school. Due to expansion work the school is waiting to instal a spiritual garden for all to use and this will require fund raising over the next year to support above what we currently support with.

THE MYRIAD CENTRE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“Established in 2007, The Myriad Centre provides daytime respite care and support every for up to 16 young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), every weekday, 52 weeks of the year. We also provide emotional support for their families/carers. As well as PMLD, many of the young people we care for have multiple and severe physical disabilities as well as complex health needs such as developmental delay, cerebral palsy, autism and mental health conditions. Our clients range in age from 18 to their late thirties and many require roundthe-clock care. They are amongst the most disavantaged people in our community.

FUNDING

“Most of our clients receive a social care funding package from the NHS or Worcestershire Council. This pays for care from one from of our highly qualified support workers, but does not for example, meet the full costs of transporting our clients to and from their homes, providing lunch, or indeed, cover the costs of the many activities and specialist interventions that we provide e.g., days out, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, music therapy, etc. We cannot pass some or any of these costs

Our passion and focus are to enhance the lives of these young people by providing person-centred support that helps improve their physical and emotional wellbeing through a range of activities, including hydrotherapy, music and art therapy, physiotherapy and fun trips out, all of which help our clients learn new skills, forge social connections and develop their confidence and self-esteem. We are all about ‘thinking possibility, not disability,’ helping these vulnerable young people get the most out of life and providing their families/ carers with a much-needed break and support. Come the summer of 2023, we will be

ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS

embarking on a major capital project to rebuild our day centre so we can provide support to even more young people with PMLD and their families (increasing the number of clients we can accommodate from 16 to up to 25).”

on to families/carers who are already facing serious financial hardship post pandemic and as a result of the cost-ofliving crisis. This means that we have to fundraise separately to cover the costs of these vital activities, which make such a difference to the lives of the young people we support.

We proactively fundraise to help bridge the gap between the statutory funding we receive and the costs of running our service through donations from

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“We would be delighted to work in partnership with Worcester County Cricket Club to help raise funds for our exciting capital project - ‘A New Home for Myriad - Building a Brighter Future.’ This is a major £2m new build on the site of our current premises in St George’s Walk, with work commencing summer 2023. We have already raised £1.25m towards this inspiring project in just nine months which, when completed in the summer of 2024, will enable us to look after even more young people with PMLD in and around Worcestershire as well as support their families. There is an increasing demand for our service

across the County and the new centre will mean we can accommodate up to 25 clients each day instead of 16 clients currently.

As a small charity, we simply do not have the marketing resources that larger charities have, so such a partnership with WCCC would help us to reach many, many more people in our community than we would be able to do on our own, helping us to tell our story to a much wider audience and truly engage with local people to support our new home project and convey the importance of social inclusion and equality of

grant-making trusts and organisations, corporate supporters, legacies and our local community. For the Year End 31 December 2021, it cost £569,615 to operate our service, and we received £578,030 in income (statutory funding and fundraising combined.)”

opportunity for these disadvantaged youngsters.

There would be many opportunities for both parties to work together - from players volunteering at the centre to our clients visiting a cricket match, which would be a huge hit with them! We would envisage the partnership working towards a specific fundraising goal e.g., to raise enough money to fit out the new physiotherapy suite or purchase equipment for the new multi-sensory room.”

THE WHISTLE FOUNDATION

ADDRESS

54 GOODWOOD DRIVE, WOLVERHAMPTON, WV10 6GH

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH WEST MIDLANDS

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

Raising money to facilitate the advancement of education (in young people and adults) around the issues of ‘equality, diversity & inclusion’, whilst also advancing amateur sport around the same areas (and for the same population), focusing on the 9 protected characteristics.

FUNDING

“We are funded through donations at events that we do throughout the year.

We run some specific cricket tournaments throughout the year that both raise money for our

chosen aims and promote local amateur cricket at all levels.”

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“WCCC can help to increase the reach of our cricket tournaments; the Midland Madness & Black Country Floodlit.

The charity has a partnership with Tettenhall Wood School, facilitating pupils to attend sporting events, this is to be expanded and provide more opportunity for the pupils.

The charity will increase its scope

of support and will also look to increase its provision of sporting opportunities for children and young people, namely by supporting them to see live sport, participate in sport (through coaching sessions/ having opportunity to play), and play sport (funding coaching sessions or supporting children/young people to play in a competitive environment)these opportunities will be afforded

to children and young people who would not otherwise have access to them.”

WORCESTER FOODBANK

ADDRESS 7 LOWESMOOR WHARF, LOWESMOOR WORCESTER, WR1 2RS

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

WORCESTER CITY

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

We provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty and/or in crisis by giving them three days nutritionally balanced emergency food. Many families make this last for over a week. We also offer toiletries to help combat hygiene poverty as well as cleaning products and cooking bags (spices, mixed herbs, oil etc.) to encourage

FUNDING

Our funding comes from individuals, churches, charities, local companies and other organisations. We receive £50,000 from Local Government as part of the National Household Support Scheme. Financial donations are used to help us operate the Foodbank Centre. This

families to cook together and have greater enjoyment of the food we offer. We try to signpost clients to agencies who can help with whatever situation they find themselves in but the current high demand limits the time spent with each client at the moment.

costs approximately £50,000 per annum. In addition we buy food for use in our food parcels - currently spending £3,000 per week and forecast this will rise as the cost of living crisis bites. We fed 15,000 people over the last 12 months, 40% of who were children. In 12 months

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“Use of Worcester Foodbank has increased by 35% over the past year and we forecast this will continue to rise in the current economic climate. Clients are referred to us by any one of over 100 referral agencies. Food donations are used entirely for the support of our clients and providing food parcels.

We are under threat of losing our Warehouse due to development of the site we currently occupy and we are looking for suitable new premises. We would very much

like to find somewhere big enough for us to incorporate a compassion centre which would give us space to support cients by signposting to agencies who could help them. Covid put paid to this service when we offered it before.

The high profile which would be afforded to the Foodbank by being partnered with WCCC could

* highlight our search for new suitable new premises

*. help enormously in encouraging donations which are currently lower

we have given away over 130 tonnes of food providing 190,000 meals. Most recently a family with eight children came to us. That morning the Bailiffs took away household goods and all their cash. With no food in the cupboard and no money we were able to help them.

than ever before,

*. Help us find sponsors for things like our strong reuseable recyclable waterproof bags in which clients receive their food which currently cost us £20,000 per year,

* raise the profile of our work so that more people understand the organisation and what we offer to help dismiss the widely held belief that clients can just pop down to us and receive free food. Understanding of our process helps with this greatly.”

WORCESTER SNOEZELEN CIO

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

The Snoezelen is a multi-sensory leisure therapy centre for people of all ages with disabilities and additional needs. Members are usually accompanied by care staff or family and take part in music, art and craft, physical activity – perhaps in our hydro-pool, in dance workshops or with our yoga teacher. Others use our sensory

FUNDING

A little over 50% of our income is currently from trading; the remainder is fundraised. We charge a small fee for our services –affordable for those on low incomes; other income is from grant funding, events and donations. We have a wide network of support and

rooms, soft-play or volunteer and train in our café. We offer group and one to one sessions for children and adults and operate a selfreferral service. We are currently seeing over 200 people each week.

regularly host volunteer groups from local businesses. We have a long-standing partnership with the University of Worcester whereby we take students on work placements in exchange for rent-free premises.

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

2023 is Worcester Snoezelen’s 30th anniversary year, and the partnership would help us celebrate the year and promote the charity, as well as help with funding to help us continue to provide services for people with disabilities, many of whom do not engage elsewhere. We would use donations for Snoezey Fest 2023, an arts festival we are planning in the summer to showcase performances by people with disabilities in music, dance and to

exhibit their artwork. Donations would be used to help our delivery of music and dance sessions preparing people for the performances, and for the creation of the art exhibition. Also, the potential for our members to get involved with WCCC would be brilliant! Partnering with WCCC would bring huge benefits, it is a great opportunity, and you are very welcome to meet with us and visit the Snoezelen centre to explore the potential.

WORCESTERSHIRE

ASSOCIATION OF CARERS

ADDRESS

POLYSEC HOUSE, BLACKPOLE TRADING ESTATE, WEST, HINDLIP LANE, WORCESTER WR3 8TJ

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

WORCESTERSHIRE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

‘WAC’ provides information, advice and support to Worcestershire’s 63,000 adult carers. A carer is anyone who provides unpaid support to a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental ill-health or substance misuse problems. We support as many carers as possible and make a difference to their lives, by helping them to become more informed, by facilitating access to services, by working with employers to support

FUNDING

“We strive to maintain a diversified income portfolio, working closely with local community to provide ongoing sustainability and to be inclusive and proactive –tailoring services to meet changing need. Our Droitwich charity shop is a vital fundraising resource, along with

carers in the workplace and by offering opportunities for respite from caring duties - so that carers are able to fulfil their caring roles without detriment to their own wellbeing.

income from community fundraising, charitable trusts, foundations and donations.

We seek funding through delivering services for local authority and the NHS - our largest source of income being Worcestershire County Council who pay us to deliver the

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“Our helpline hears daily from struggling carers – feeling isolated, unsupported and forgotten. As if being a carer is not hard enough – the added impact of the cost-ofliving crisis puts immense strain on physical and mental health.

WCCC can help through all areas of Club activity, practically and financially. We know you will raise our game in meeting our objectives to: - drive awareness and reach new audiences: hard-to-reach categories (e.g: male, parent, older carers) - grow our Carer Friendly Employer

Network – linking sponsorship and business networking opportunities - reduce loneliness, opportunities to meet socially, and for physical activity for carers and occasionally their ‘cared for’ - improve carers’ physical health and wellbeing

Donations are used for example, to provide much-needed respite for carers from caring duties – through organising activity sessions, days out and through hosting support groups (e.g: male carers group).

Worcestershire Carers Hub. We also receive income from the NHS for several projects including social prescribing services and lifestyle adviser services in Redditch.”

2023 is our charity’s 25th anniversary year and our flagship project is ‘Carers Unlimited’ which creates opportunities for our county’s carers to connect with others, improve wellbeing and reduce loneliness through a busy activity programme. It will be innovative and know no boundaries. We welcome the opportunity to celebrate with you in reaching out to our diverse caring community.”

WORCESTERSHIRE PARENT AND CARERS COMMUNITY

ADDRESS

CROSSROADS, WEIR LANE, LOWER WICK WORCESTER, WR2 4AY

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH

WORCESTERSHIRE

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

We support young people with additional needs, in the context of the whole family, their parents and carers and aim to combat the isolation which these families experience. Activities include our Youth Group, family events (e.g., visits to Malvern Splash, West Midlands Safari Park and Redpoint (rock climbing) which bring the

FUNDING

“We have no statutory funding as funding for youth activities has been drastically reduced. We rely entirely on funding bids and contributions from local councillors through their Divisional Fund. We make a small charge for our activities, but these

whole family together with support for parents and carers through advice and guidance, yoga sessions and coffee mornings. Events are held throughout Worcestershire. We are involved in the development of statutory services e.g., WCC’s Carers Strategy. Our membership is 252 families, an increase of 19 families in the last three months.

are heavily subsidised.

We employ no professional fund raisers and welcome visits from our funders to our office or our events. We can send you our last set of accounts if you require them.

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“We would like support for our Youth Group. This meets quarterly and although based at Perdiswell Young People’s Leisure Club there are outings to e.g., Rock climbing, laser quest, bowling, farm visits, sporting events and mini golf. Most of these are the ideas of the members. At these events the members learn to make group decisions, such as deciding the rules to be followed, and budgeting. The aim is to develop and enhance self-independence and other skills and to instil confidence in both the members and their families that these young people can, with appropriate support, make the most

of their abilities.

There is also a yearly residential which is usually held at Boundless Outdoors, Malvern. In 2022 the resident chef was away so the group had to self-cater, which they did brilliantly. For some members this is their first time away from home due to the complexity of their needs.

There is also the possibility of monthly zoom sessions. At present membership is restricted to age 13.5-19. The cost of running the Group is presently around £7, 500 a year including room hire, cost of equipment and appropriate

We recognise that we are smaller than some charities whom you support but we are growing, we have a real presence in the community, and we really do make a difference!”

activities, together with training and payment of specialist support staff.

The group has now been running for a number of years and has been a real success in enabling young people with additional needs to gain the confidence and skills to realise their full potential. For instance, at least two of them have successfully completed university degrees., There is a long-term aim to extend this to 25 as so many services for young people end at age 18-19. This will be a separate group with different events.”

YOUNG LIVES VS CANCER

ADDRESS

NO 1 FARRIERS YARD, 77-85 FULHAM PALACE ROAD, LONDON, W6 8JA

GEOGRAPHICAL REACH UK

DESCRIPTION OF CHARITY

“When a child is diagnosed with cancer life becomes full of fear, for them and their family. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, overwhelming money worries, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to.

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we get that. We are the charity that helps

FUNDING

We receive no government funding so rely on the kindness of supporters to ensure we can be there for young cancer patients and their families.

We work with charitable trusts and local corporates and businesses to

children and young people (0-25) and their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. We know everyone’s different, so we work hard to make sure each family has what they need to get through cancer.”

help in funding our family support programmes, including our recently launched Crisis Fund.

We’re lucky to have supporters in the local community working tirelessly on innovative ideas, raising money and engaging people with

HOW CAN THE CLUB HELP?

“The sad truth is our local social workers, who work on the frontline, are seeing how grim it has become for families right now. It is vital young cancer patients are kept warm, well fed, and can get to hospital, but the reality is that families are left having to make impossible choices.

As the cost of living crisis sweeps the UK, the families we support are having to deal with the uncontrollable costs of cancer alongside mounting everyday

costs. This winter, on top of their diagnosis, hundreds of families are in desperate need of immediate help as they hit financial rock bottom.

Since the launch of our Crisis Fund in November 2022, our Worcestershire and West Midlands support team has supplied 33 local families with a crisis grant, totalling over £6,360.

We would love to work with Worcestershire County Cricket Club, to help us generate the

the charity. This may be through fundraising events, giving talks and carrying out bucket collections.

£500,000 needed for our Crisis Fund, by fundraising as our charity partner for 2023.

With your help, they’ll be able to pay for the basics so that they don’t have to choose between keeping the heating on, putting fuel in the car to get to hospital, or ensuring there is food on the table.”