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2010 Awards Evening Old Spot trots along to help Gloucestershire causes
25 local good causes have benefitted after the Old Spot Trust held its second awards evening last Wednesday.They Gloucestershire charities shared grants worth more than £10,000. More than 70 people attended the Awards Evening, which took place at Over Farm Market, Gloucester. They included trustees, volunteers and representatives of charities, community groups and organisations benefitting from awards. ‘‘The charities that received grants are extremely worthy causes,’’ said Rob Ayland, Trustee and Managing Director of Completely Motoring. The charities to receive grants include: Cotswold Downs Syndrome Group provides support to individuals and their families, the grant from the Old Spot Trust will help them to organise an activity holiday to The Calvert Trust. Cotswold Riding for the Disabled offers riding for disabled children and adults in the area. The grant donated by the trust will go towards the total cost of purchasing a pony and replacing old fencing in the paddocks. The Stable are a local social enterprise that work with adults with learning difficulties or those who are unemployed to make a difference in their community. They have allotments and are due to set up a mini city farm. The Old Spot Trust grant will allow them to buy a new rotavator for their projects. Fibro Babes is a support group for people in the county suffering from Fibromyalgia. The grant will go towards the costs of purchasing promotional materials including badges, t-shirts and bags. The Cotswold Prostate Cancer Support Group is a local support group which was set up to help men and their families who are affected by Prostate Cancer. The Old Spot Trust donation will help the group to fund their awareness campaign. Canine Partners trains dogs to assist people with severe disabilities, allowing them to enjoy greater independence and better quality of life. The grant provided by the Old Spot Trust will go towards helping Canine Partners set up a puppy training satellite in Gloucestershire. Cobalt provides a centre of excellence in breast care for patients in the area, they are going to purchase a television for their waiting area for a better patient experience. Winkfield applied for funding to support two young people from Cheltenham that have Downs Syndrome to carry out their ‘grow your own fruit and veg’ project. Gloucestershire Multiple Sclerosis Information and Technology Centre provide a range of complimentary therapies for those with Multiple Sclerosis or other neurological problems. These therapies include reflexology, remedial massage, physiotherapy, shiatsu and oxygen therapy. Due to the increase of people using the oxygen therapy the Old Spot Trust grant will go towards buying more oxygen masks. Students at Brockworth Enterprise School are undertaking a number of environmental projects to develop and enhance areas within the school grounds which will be used for social activities and outside learning, the grant will help them achieve this. Gloucestershire Domestic Violence Support and Advocacy project exists to help women and men in who affected by domestic abuse. They provide a free and confidential county-wide service. The money donated by the Old Spot Trust will enable their helpline manager to get their training programme accredited. Quedgeley Wanderers Football Club are a Football Association Charter Development Club, the money donated to them by the trust will help them to build a multi-use indoor sports hall and meeting room for members and for residents of Quedgeley and surrounding areas. Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading conservation organisation. They manage more than 60 nature reserves, covering 2,500 acres of the county The grant will allow the trust to train volunteers in basic practical conservation skills. The Milestone School is a community special school for children with severe learning and/or learning difficulties. The Old Spot Trust grant will help the school to fund their breakfast club which has been set up to allow the children to prepare and eat a healthy breakfast which aids the development of social skills and increases independence. TS Bulldog Navy Training Corps is a national youth organisation promoting adventurous activities for junior cadets. The Old Spot Trust grant will go towards buying uniforms, equipment, community centre hire charges and the hire costs of a swimming pool for the cadets to complete some waterman ship training. The Extra Care Charitable Trust currently operates 30 supported housing schemes and retirement villages, the grant from the Old Spot Trust will go towards the cost of a well-being nurse in the new St Oswald’s Village in Gloucester. FC Highnam Youth Football Club currently uses a portakabin for storing goals and training kit. Recently, the club got planning permission for a new clubhouse, this is what the grant will go towards. The Roses Theatre provides an innovative mix of theatre, film, music and live literature for people of all ages. The theatre is also an educational resource for the community and a safe forum to discuss hopes, fears and celebrations. The money donated by the Old Spot Trust will fund some of this work. 1st Northway Scout Group is a Scout development project run by Gloucestershire County Scouts. The grant from the trust will enable them to purchase equipment such as flags, poles, bibs and food preparation utensils to improve the quality of the young people’s experience and to keep them enthusiastic. The Tewkesbury Medieval Festival stages an annual Medieval festival in Tewkesbury to the benefit of the public at large and to promote the knowledge and understanding of life in the middle ages, the Wars of the Roses and the Battle of Tewkesbury. The event is run by a small group of members and volunteers, the money they have received from the Old Spot Trust will go towards the costs of the event. The Forest Road Resource Centre is working on a healthy eating project to enable people with learning difficulties to learn the process of getting food from field to fork. The Old Spot Trust grant will allow the centre to tidy up the area that they will use, provide disabled access and a safe environment for children to participate. The Forest of Dean Allotments Association was set up with the aim of finding suitable land for allotments due to the demand in the district. They have now secured two areas enabling them to offer about 20 plots. Funding provided by the Old Spot Trust will allow the association to pay their first year’s rent, to secure insurance and to hire machinery to allow tenants to start preparing the land. The Mitcheldean Allotments Association was set up in 2008 to work towards acquiring land for growing purposes. They have since been approached to take care of the allotment garden at the Wilderness Centre, the grant provided by the Old Spot Trust will allow the association to purchase some membrane to cover the bare bones of an old polytunnel. Great Oaks Hospice is run by a group of volunteers who provide hospice facilities free of charge to adults, their carers and families that are suffering with life threatening illnesses. The Old Spot Trust grant will help them to fund their core service which is the centre for palliative care. Dursley RFC is used for sports including rugby, football, cricket and athletics. The Old Spot Trust grant will be used to redevelop the clubs facilities. Rob added ‘‘It’s really great to be able to give back to the local community and to support charities that may otherwise get over looked.’’ Guests at the Awards Evening enjoyed a pig roast which was donated by Gurney’s butchers and had the opportunity to meet the other recipients. They were welcomed by Trust Chairman, Rob Ayland, who said the event was the culmination of just under three years of hard, but thoroughly enjoyable work by Trustees and Friends of the Old Spot Trust. The trust relies on people - individuals, groups or businesses getting involved in helping to raise money. If you would like to donate some money or if you would like to take part in some of the fundraising events we organise throughout the year please visit our website for details. Please find below links to the 2010 beneficiary charities. TS Bulldog Navy Training Corps: http://navytrainingcorps.org/gloucester/ Gloucestershire Multiple Sclerosis Information & Therapy centre: http://www.glosmsinfo.org.uk/ The Extra Care Charitable Trust: http://www.extracare.org.uk/ Brockworth Enterprise School: http://www.bes.gloucs.sch.uk/ Cotswold Riding for the Disabled: http://www.cotswoldrda.org.uk/index.html Fibro Babes: http://www.fibrobabes.co.uk/ Dursley Rugby Football Club: http://www.dursleyrfc.co.uk/ Great Oaks Hospice: http://www.great-oaks.org.uk/ The Cotswold Prostate Cancer Support Group: http://cotswoldsprostatecancer.org/ Tewkesbury Medieval Festival: http://www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/ Canine Partners: http://www.caninepartners.co.uk/ The Roses Theatre: http://www.rosestheatre.org/ Quedgeley Wanderers FC: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/quedgeleywanderers/ Cobalt: http://www.cobaltappeal.com/cobalthome.htm Highnam Football Club: http://www.fchighnam.co.uk/ Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust: http://www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/ The Milestone School: http://www.themilestoneschool.ik.org/home.ikml
Please view the photo gallery.
2009 Awards Evening More than £8,000 was given to 21 local good causes when The Old Spot Trust held its first Awards Evening. The event took place at Highnam Court, near Gloucester on Wednesday 27th May 2009. More than 100 people attended – from representatives of charities, community groups and organisations benefitting from Awards to civic dignitaries and other distinguished guests. They were welcomed by Trust Chairman, Rob Ayland, who said the event was the culmination of just under two years of hard, but thoroughly enjoyable work by Trustees and Friends of the Old Spot Trust. “It was in the Summer of 2007 that some friends and I discussed the possibility of doing something to help Gloucestershire and celebrate all the fabulous things that we have here,” he said. “From its environment and wildlife to its people and places, we are fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the country. In forming the charity, we wanted to work with local people and encourage community spirit and charitable support.” “One thing that’s very important to us is that we’re all volunteers. We organise all our fund-raising events - and things such as this evening - in our own time. We’re fortunate to be helped by another small group of volunteers who we call the Friends of The Old Spot Trust. They are mainly our families and friends and they give us their time or help in kind. You will see a number of them here this evening. For larger events, we’re also able to rely on a wider group of volunteers. We are very grateful to all of them for their help.” The presentation evening was hosted by BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Head of Programmes, David Aston, who was helped by Trustee Hilary Allison. Cheques were presented to recipients by people who have supported the Trust:
Cheques were given to: The Spring Centre in Quedgeley which supports children with special needs and disabilities throughout Gloucestershire. Some of the children have Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, Autism, Muscular Dystrophy, sight, hearing and learning difficulties, physical and mental disabilities as well as rare chromosome disorders and undiagnosed problems. The Centre provides vital support for the entire family. The Old Spot Trust grant will fund a new games table for the children. Longlevens Rugby Football Club Under 9’s is a highly successful team run by volunteer coaches and administrative staff. The enthusiasm shown by every one of the 16 players is infectious and the highlight of their week is the weekly Sunday morning match. The Old Spot Trust grant will help fund next season’ new Team Kit. Gloucestershire Animal Welfare Association & Cheltenham Animal Shelter has been helping animals since the 1930s. As well as stray animals, it takes in dogs, cats and small animals from owners who can no longer to look after them for a variety of reasons and aims to re-home them. It also educates people in correct and appropriate animal husbandry through humane education programmes. The Old Spot Trust grant will go towards buying an agility course to build for the dogs in the Centre’s paddock. This will help with exercise programmes and aims to stimulate them. Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a debilitating illness for which there is no cure. Life expectancy is between three and five years and, as the illness progresses, people are robbed of their ability to walk, talk, eat and move their upper and lower limbs. The cruel twist is that the brain in unaffected so the person affected is fully aware of their progressive deterioration. The Gloucestershire branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association helps suffers and their families throughout the county. The Old Spot Trust grant will help towards funding three motorised wheelchairs for sufferers. The mission of The Wiggly Worm is to motivate individuals and organisations to choose to improve their lifestyle whilst valuing the diversity of others and their community environment. It aims to develop a Dads’ Cooking Scheme with Coney Hill Children’s Centre. The Old Spot Trust grant will go towards running these and helping Dads to develop a healthier lifestyle for their families. The Pied Piper Appeal is a Gloucestershire charity which is helping relieve sickness in children by providing child-friendly equipment over and above what’s supplied by the National Health Service. Battledown Children’s Ward at Cheltenham Hospital is a busy outpatient ward where children attend for appointments, tests and minor operations. The current waiting area doesn’t have facilities for children with special needs. It’s hoped such an area would enhance and compliment the hospital experience for these children and their families. The Old Spot Trust grant will be put towards buying play equipment for them. Teckels Animal Sanctuary is a welfare centre which takes in dogs or cats looking for a home. They don’t discriminate against old or sick animals which means they can spend quite a long time there waiting for the right home. The centre also provides volunteer opportunities for adults with special needs and learning difficulties as well as schools and colleges. The Old Spot Trust grant will towards helping make sure this valuable work continues. The James Hopkins Trust provides nursing and respite care for severely disabled, life limited and life-threatened children aged under six in the county. They need nursing care around the clock. This level of care is provided in the home or at Kites Corner, its multi-sensory day centre and gardens. The Old Spot Trust grant will help fund a newsletter to give people important information about its work. Barnwood Community Partnership uses volunteers and helps local residents to get involved in helping to make Barnwood a better place in which to live, work and play. It’s due to move into an office so that it has a proper base from which to do this. The Old Spot Trust grant will be put towards providing this much-needed facility for the community. Cinderford Rugby and Sports Club provides sporting opportunities for 250 young people. With its 100 volunteers, the club plays a vital role in helping young people develop fitness, discipline and community & team spirit. The Old Spot Trust grant will be put towards transporting the players to away games and help disadvantaged young people buy kit. The Gloucestershire Chest Fund helps people suffering from chest diseases. It aims to buy special medical equipment not usually funded by the NHS and, where possible, also provides finance for research into chest diseases, particularly Tuberculosis, which is now becoming more prevalent. The Old Spot Trust grant will go towards Endobronchial Ultrasound equipment to help with the early diagnosis of lung cancer without the need for invasive surgery. The Gloucester & District branch of the Alzheimer’s Society supports local people affected by dementia. The branch is keen to set up a ‘Singing for the Brain’ group as this has been found to have a really positive effect on people with dementia. The Old Spot Trust grant will go towards hiring a room & providing refreshments for this. Gloucester Gang Show is an annual theatre production run by Gloucestershire District Scout Association to teach Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Leaders and Guides key life skills through a theatre production. It involves a six-month intense rehearsal period, with a minimum 5 hours’ commitment each week. The Association has to hire stage weights and stage braces each year and The Old Spot Trust grant will go towards buying these. The Crowley O’Shea School of Irish Dancing is a new not-for-profit school of dancing. The school has 17 young students. The Old Spot Trust grant will help buy Irish Dance dresses. The Forest of Dean Sea Cadets is an independent, voluntary uniformed organisation open to young people between 10 and 18 years, including a junior section for those between 10 and 12 years of age. It aims to provide fun, friendship, adventure and new skills through water and land-based activities. Due to increasing numbers, the unit needs more training space and is now fund-raising to buy its own building. The Old Spot Trust grant will go towards this. The church roof at All Saints Church in Longhope is being repaired. To help raise funds, a community cookbook – ‘All Saints All Sorts’ – is being produced, with all recipes given by local people. It has involved the school and other local organisations. All recipes use locally grown and bought ingredients, so involving village businesses too. The Old Spot Trust grant will go towards printing the cookbook. For the past 20 years, The Family Haven to has run a day centre in Gloucester to provide practical help and support to deprived and vulnerable families with pre-school children. Clients are often families living in bed & breakfast, those with mental health issues, victims of domestic violence and children with special needs. The centre will put The Old Spot Trust grants towards its nursery one-to-one sessions and outreach service. Alderman Knight School is a special school in Tewkesbury which focuses on the needs of children between 5 and 16 years with learning difficulties, complex needs and autistic spectrum disorders. The Old Spot Trust grant will fund an out-of-hours trip for 10 pupils to Croft Farm Water Park in Bredon’s Hardwick. They will take part in activities such as windsurfing, sailing, canoeing and kayaking. Hanover Lodge is a sheltered housing complex at Cashes Green, near Stroud. A number of its 35 residents have disabilities. The Old Spot Trust grant will be put towards an on-site meeting and community room for its elderly residents this. The Tirley Village Committee would like to improve its kitchen facilities and provide an outside play area for its Mother & Toddler Group. The Old Spot Trust grant will contribute to these things. The Priors Park Neighbourhood Project aims to improve quality of life for people living in that part of Tewkesbury. The Old Spot Trust grant will pay for a Pony Day when youngsters from there will go to Twyning Riding Stables for the day. As well as the basics of riding, they will learn how to care for and respect the animals. After the cheques had been presented, Trustee Rob Keene urged people to help support The Old Spot Trust and its role in Gloucestershire. “We can’t really stress enough that we really need to get more people - individuals, groups or businesses – involved in helping to raise money for The Old Spot Trust,” he said. “As Trustees, we do whatever we can but there is a limit to what we can do on our own.” “You might have some money to give and want a charity to donate it to. Perhaps you have a charity of the year at work? If so we would love it to be The Old Spot Trust. You might be taking part in some sort of sponsored event and decide that The Old Spot Trust will benefit. On the other hand, you might want to take part in some of the fundraising events we organise throughout the year. If you think none of our events are for you, you might want to suggest an event for us to run. Do let us know.” Fellow Trustee Caroline Rawlinson thanked everyone who had been involved in making the Awards Evening possible. They included:
For details about how to apply for funding in 2010 please visit the "Helping You" page. Please view the photo gallery.
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Registered Address - Over Farm Market, Over,
Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL2 8DB.
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