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. Theevent 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.
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.
Issued by Vivid. For further details please contact Lauren Jones on 01684 854408 or email lauren@thevividconsultancy.com
