WESLEYAN FOUNDATION UNLOCKS £100,000 FOR CHARITIES

The Wesleyan Foundation plans to donate more than £100,000 to hardworking charities as part of its Winter of Giving fund.

The fund is being shared among 48 charities and community groups, each receiving £2,200 to help with their essential work in communities across the UK.  The charities and community groups that received funding were selected by Wesleyan colleagues.

The Winter of Giving fund was set up in response to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis to help support organisations that play a vital role working to address issues around health and wellbeing, education, equality and sustainability.

One organisation that will get a boost is Whizz-Kidz, a charity aimed at reducing inequalities and building a more inclusive society for those who need mobility support. The charity will use the funding to help young people to access the mobility equipment they need to live as independently as possible.

Balvinder Thandi, a financial adviser from Wesleyan who nominated the charity, said: “Whizz- Kidz is an amazing charity that is doing incredible work to make society more inclusive. Not only that but it makes a huge difference to the confidence of its young users by helping with their physical and mental wellbeing.

“Being part of a mutual like Wesleyan is fantastic as it means we can give back to the causes that matter most to us and our members. I’m proud that were able to support an organisation that makes a difference to so many.”

Sarah Pugh, Chief Executive at Whizz-Kidz, said: “This funding from the Wesleyan Foundation will make a great difference to the young people we’re supporting. We know that this winter is particularly challenging for many and this is putting even more pressure on vital services. Every donation that we receive goes a long way and we’re looking forward to supporting our service users with this in coming weeks and months.”

The Wesleyan Foundation is the charitable arm of financial mutual Wesleyan, which specialises in providing financial support to doctors, dentists and teachers. It helps support great causes that are important to Wesleyan’s members and the communities in which they live and work.

Launched in 2017, the Foundation has since donated £4.3 million and has supported more than 100,000 people via 500 different charities, community groups and social enterprises.

Jacob Ayre, Community and Citizenship Officer at Wesleyan said: “As a mutual we can put our money where it’ll make the most difference to our members and society, and that’s what we wanted to do with this fund.

“Winter can be an incredibly difficult time for many, and we know this year is harder than most. We hope this funding goes some way to help the groups that play a vital role with families and communities across the country.”

The groups receiving funding through the Winter of Giving Fund include African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust, Alzheimers Society, Bassetlaw Citizens Advice Be Kind, Beis Brucha, Black Country Women’s Aid, Brightest Star, British Dietetic Association, British Heart Foundation, Campaign against living miserably, Clothing Coventry, Designs in Mind, Dystonia UK, Everyone needs a shed, Family Support Link, FareShare, Friendly Access, Great Barr Foodbank, Hagley Primary School PTA, Hope House, Inclusion Gloucestershire, Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer, Let’s Eat Project, Little Stars Baby Bank, Meriden Adventure Playground (MAPA), Midland Langar Seva Society (MLSS), NI Hospice, Oasis Community Housing, Parkinsons UK, Pendleside Hospice, Phoenix Rising, Primrose Hospice Sands, SIFA Fireside, Signpost Inclusion, Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK, St Oswalds Hospice, Teenage Cancer Trust, Telford Mind, The Evie Dove Foundation, The Lenches Preschool, The Lily Mae Foundation, The Moira Fund, The Veterans Hub Tommy’s, Whizz Kidz, Young Carers Team at Carers Trust Solihull.

Community groups and charities that are interested finding out more about funding available via the Wesleyan Foundation should visit www.wesleyan.co.uk/foundation/winter-of-giving.