M6toll support Blood Bikes during Covid-19
M6toll support Staffordshire, Shropshire & Cheshire Blood Bikes during Covid-19
As part of the M6toll’s Drive for Charity ‘In the Community’ funding, Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL); operators of the M6toll have provided £750 to SSCBB to support them during these unprecedented times whilst they assist the NHS Trusts with PPE deliveries and Covid-19 testing.
SSCBB are currently exceptionally busy, in addition to their normal urgent deliveries they are carrying Covid 19 samples for testing, with their bikes regularly en route to Birmingham Patology labs. SSCBB are also assisting with the delivery of urgently needed PPE to the NHS Trusts in Shropshire Staffordshire and Cheshire.
SSCBB is an urgent 100% volunteer service which uses liveried blood bikes to deliver medical samples, blood, platelets, donated frozen breast milk and other urgent items to NHS hospitals across Shropshire Staffordshire and Cheshire. Launched in 2014, it recently reached its 20,000 delivery. It serves Burton NHS Trust, the University Hospitals of North Midlands including the Royal Stoke Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford.
During these uncertain times, they have been unable to carry out their usual face to face fundraising and with fuel costs increasing due to an increased need for their service, donations such as these from MEL are vitally important.
Lynne Stone, Trustee of SSCBB, responsible for fundraising efforts said “We are indebted to the M6toll Drive for Charity In the Community scheme for their generous donation. It comes at a time when we are unable to do our usual face to face fundraising and the funds will go towards keeping our blood bikes operational. Demands on our urgent service are high at present, in addition to our usual deliveries for our local NHS hospitals we have been called upon to deliver Covid 19 samples for testing and to deliver urgently needed PPE. ”
Jo Brett, MEL Social Committee Member added: “During these unprecedented times it is vital that we support local charities who are providing such a vital service to our NHS Trusts. We are so proud to support SSCBB and the amazing work they do in the local community.”
More information about SSCBB can be found here https://ssbbgroup.org.uk
Since the M6toll opened 16 years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes.
Last year, M6toll’s online scheme saw £20,000 given to ‘charity of the year’ Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and dozens of smaller awards made to community projects. To find out more or to nominate a local project to receive funding please visit www.m6toll.co.uk/about-us/drive-for-charity/
Alternatively, check out some more of our Drive for Charity Work Here.
Back to newsM6toll support Royal Voluntary Service during Covid-19
M6toll support the Royal Voluntary Service during Covid-19
As part of the M6toll’s Drive for Charity ‘In the Community’ funding, Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL); operators of the M6toll have provided £750 to the Royal Voluntary Service to support them during these unprecedented times whilst they continue to support and assist those vulnerable, older people in the community.
Prior to Covid-19 the Royal Voluntary Service ran 11 cafes and 13 activity clubs for vulnerable older people in Birmingham, due to social distancing the charity have had to adapt their support, with staff and volunteers now making well-being calls to all their clients each day whilst also delivering food, essential items and medicines. The donation from the M6toll will help the charity to continue with this support system now and after Covid-19, ensuring that older people can return to café’s and social club safely in the future.
The Royal Voluntary Service support older, vulnerable people in the community through their network of volunteers running social clubs, dementia café’s and helping with practical support such as shopping, prescriptions and befriending. They also run Royal Voluntary Service shops and café’s in hospitals including Royal Orthopaedic, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Bromsgrove Hospital and Selly Oak Artificial Limb Centre, providing affordable healthy food to patients, visitors and NHS staff, most of these are run by our volunteers.
Stacey Smalley, Regional Fundraising Manager for the Midlands at RVS said “On behalf of the staff, volunteers and clients at Royal Voluntary Service, I would like to thank the M6toll for their generous donation of £750 in support of our emergency appeal during the Coronavirus Pandemic. You have helped to ensure our services can adapt and continue throughout these challenging times. Our Community-based teams, including volunteers, are working tirelessly to ensure that despite these uncertain and anxious times, older people in Birmingham do not have to face them alone. Currently we have services supporting older people in the local community and the NHS. Thanks to the M6toll’s support we are able to adapt these services to this new way of living and ensure isolation doesn’t mean coping alone.”
Jo Brett, MEL Social Committee Member added: “During these unprecedented times it is vital that we support local charities who are providing such a vital service to vulnerable people in our community. We are so proud to support the Royal Voluntary Service and the amazing work they do for our local community.”
More information about the Royal Voluntary Service can be found here https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Since the M6toll opened 16 years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes.
Last year, M6toll’s online scheme saw £20,000 given to ‘charity of the year’ Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and dozens of smaller awards made to community projects. To find out more or to nominate a local project to receive funding please visit www.m6toll.co.uk/about-us/drive-for-charity/
You Can Read Another Drive for Charity Article Here.
Back to newsM6toll support helps patients keep in touch with loved ones
Midland Expressway Ltd (operators of the M6toll) have shown their support to University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) Charity by providing a donation of £1,500 through their Drive for Charity In the Community scheme.
The donation will be used to buy tablets that will allow older patients across the Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals to communicate with their families whilst in hospital.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, patients across University Hospitals Birmingham have been unable to receive visits from their loved ones. UHB Charity has asked for support to fund iPads and other tablets that will allow patients to see their families through video calls, helping them to keep in contact whilst in hospital.
Laura Power, Fundraising Manager at Good Hope Hospital Charity, said: “Our thanks go to everyone who voted for our Charity from M6toll. The generous donation that we’ve received will allow us to fund tablets for more patients across our hospitals, helping to give them the comfort of speaking and seeing their loved ones through this difficult time.”
Many patients have already benefitted from the tablets, amongst them is Gladys, who was able to speak to her family after not seeing them for two weeks whilst she was in hospital.
Natalie Morton, Ward Manager for Ward West One at QEHB, said: “We have been using the tablets daily and it’s been so useful at this difficult time helping patients to keep in touch with their family. It’s been so lovely to see our patients happily talking to their families during such an uncertain time.
“Some of our patients are in hospital for a very long time, so having these tablets is invaluable to those who want to keep in touch with their families.”
Joanne Brett, MEL Social Committee Member added: “We are so proud to be providing support to our local NHS in these challenging and uncertain times. We hope that our donation will bring their patients some happiness allowing them to communicate and keep in touch with their loved ones ”.
MEL’s donation forms part of a wider initiative to support local schools and community projects. MEL’s Social Committee is always on the lookout for local charities and community projects to support. To register your charity or community project with MEL for consideration to receive fundraising or practical (volunteering) support now or in the future visit Drive for Charity for further information.
To read more news on our charity work, Click Here.
Back to newsM6toll Supports Local Children’s Hospice
As part of the M6toll’s Drive for Charity ‘In the Community’ funding, Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL); operators of the M6toll have provided £1,500 to Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Members of MEL’s Social Committee visited Acorns hospice in the Black Country, based in Walsall, this week to meet with their team and gain a better understanding of the specialist care and support they provide to local children and families.
MEL’s £1,500 will be utilised for the essential care and support of one child for two days, which includes bereavement care for families, the running and maintenance of hydrotherapy pools and hydro-spa, community support for families and support towards the laundry provision at two hospices.
Karen Larkin, HR Business Partner at MEL said: “We are delighted to support Acorns, it was extremely emotional to see first-hand the home-from-home environment and the individual care which the Walsall team provides.”
Rachel Learmonth, Partnership Officer (Trusts & Major Donors) at Acorns, said: “It was wonderful to welcome members of MEL’s Social Committee to our hospice in the Black Country so they could see for themselves how this fantastic donation will be spent.
“As a charity we rely on generous donations by local businesses and the community to raise the funds we need each day to run our hospices and provide our care and support services. So, this money will make a real difference to the children and families who need us.”
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for life limited and life threatened babies, children and young people across the West Midlands, as well as support for their families. This lifeline care is offered from its three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community. In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 780 children and over 1,220 families, including those who are bereaved.
For more information on how you can support Acorns, please visit www.acorns.org.uk. To read more on our community work, Click Here.
Back to newsLocal Activity Centre Trust receives cash boost from M6toll
Staff from Midland Expressway Ltd (operators of the M6toll) recently visited Beaudesert Activity Centre after providing the Trust with £1500 towards their fundraising campaign.
Midland Expressway Limited’s (MEL) donation was a great boost to the Trust whose volunteers will now be able to begin work on building a grass sledging run for their young visitors.
Beaudesert Activity Centre is run and managed by the Beaudesert Trust and is a 130 acre site on the edge of Cannock Chase which provides fun and adventure for 60,000 young people a year. The Trust was founded to manage lands gifted for use by scouts, guides and other youth organisations.
In its 75 years it has provided visitors with exciting and safe day visits and overnight camping and residential experiences. The Beaudesert Trust is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment to promote learning and development of young people, working with groups such as the scouts, guides, youth groups, schools, colleges, and the Prince’s Trust.
Jeremy Cotton, Chairman said: “Beaudesert Outdoor Activity Centre is very grateful for the donation of £1500 from Midland Expressway Ltd. The grass sledging run will add a dimension of excitement for our young visitors and specifically build upon self-confidence and teamwork!”
Stuart Spence, MEL Social Committee Member added: “It was a real pleasure to visit the Beaudesert Activity Centre and hear about the exciting activities that are available to young people and groups such as The Princes Trust. Our Drive for Charity campaign is all about supporting projects and people within the towns and villages surrounding the toll road, so we are pleased to have been able to make this contribution.”
More information about Beaudesert Activity Centre can be found here http://www.beaudesert.org/. Alternatively, discover more of the Great Work Funded By Drive For Charity Here.
Back to newsM6toll Backs Bags for Brummies Campaign
A Birmingham campaign that supports homeless people in the area has been backed by M6toll’s Drive for Charity scheme for the second year running.
Organised by Birmingham-based charity LoveBrum, the ‘Bags for Brummies’ campaign invites people from across the region to donate a selection of items which go into care packages for the homeless community, handed out in bags sponsored by M6toll.
Andy Cliffe, chief executive of M6toll said: “We are delighted to support Bags for Brummies again this year. We know that the winter months can be tough for those living on the streets, so we hope the bags can provide comfort this festive season.
“Our team will also be volunteering to help pack the bags we have sponsored, as we believe it is important to be fully involved in the projects we support.”
Paul Mitchell, executive director at LoveBrum, added: “It’s our aim to help and support the homeless community as much as possible, especially at this time of year, and our Bags for Brummies campaign is a great way to be able to spread a little cheer during these dark and cold winter months.
“We were blown away by people’s generosity and the incredible donations last year, as well as the number of amazing volunteers that selflessly gave up their time to pack these bags. We’d love to go bigger and better in 2019, and we need everyone’s help to be able to do this.”
With an estimated one in 73 people in Birmingham sleeping on the streets, LoveBrum has drawn up a wish list of essential supplies that includes hats, gloves, scarves, toiletries, sleeping bags and a £10 supermarket voucher*.
The bags are being packed in volunteer sessions from 26th November to 11th December and handed out at SIFA Fireside’s annual Christmas lunch on 13th December.
Last year, LoveBrum collected over 15,000 items and handed out more than 600 bags to those in need.
For further information, please visit: www.lovebrum.org.uk/event/bags-brummies-2019
We’ve now backed this campaign for three consecutive years. Read More About This Here.
Details of community and charity support given by M6toll as part of its Drive for Charity programme can be found at Drive for Charity.
Back to news
First Responder group secures M6toll funding
Burntwood and Cannock Chase Community First Responders have received a £1,500 grant from the M6toll’s charitable fund.
The organisation will use the donation to help purchase vital lifesaving equipment for its community-based volunteer Team.
Shaun Mayo, for Burntwood and Cannock Chase Community First Responders (CFR), said: “Our group of dedicated volunteers is committed to caring for our community by donating their free time to respond to local emergency calls, supporting the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS).
“As one of the busiest CFR schemes in the West Midlands, last year we attended 565 jobs covering 2,102 on duty hours. We are trained by WMAS to respond to different types of emergency 999 calls to provide initial assessment and treatment. We also deliver free CPR and AED awareness sessions in the communities we serve.”
The Burntwood and Cannock Chase group was established nine years ago and needs to continually raise funds to maintain and replace equipment.
M6toll’s monthly Drive for Charity in the Community campaign aims to support community groups and projects across the Midlands as part of a £45,000 initiative.
Maxine Estevez of M6toll, said: “The first responder scheme provides an essential service for local people across the region, so we are proud to support them.
“Our Drive for Charity scheme is all about supporting the towns and villages surrounding the toll road, so we are pleased to have been able to make this contribution.”
Since the M6toll opened 15 years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes.
This year, M6toll’s online scheme saw £20,000 given to ‘charity of the year’ Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and dozens of smaller awards made to community projects.
Discover More of our Drive for Charity Work Here.
Back to newsM6toll funding hits the right note for Hospital Radio
The immediate future of a 24-hour hospital radio service has been secured thanks to funding from the M6toll.
Hospital Radio Stafford has been selected by the motorway’s social committee to receive £1,500 through its Drive for Charity in the Community scheme.
The donation will help to upgrade the station’s computer software, enabling the charity to continue to entertain and inform patients across four sites, including Katharine House Hospice.
Natalie Pelling, from Hospital Radio Stafford, said: “The service has a positive impact on patients and volunteers, bringing a sense of community to everyone across the hospital sites. We don’t ever want to let them down by not being able to broadcast their favourite music and chat, so we are incredibly grateful to M6toll for supporting us.
“Our studio software is almost 15 years old and, despite an update in 2015, it is becoming increasingly unreliable. The funding from M6toll will help us to maintain our 24-hour service and focus our other fundraising on further upgrades to the studios.”
Hospital Radio Stafford is a small self-funded local charity which has been broadcasting to hospitals in central Staffordshire since 1972. The service delivers 33 hours of ‘live’ programming, where most of which are request shows. For more information visit www.hrstafford.org.uk.
Since the M6toll opened 15 years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes.
Maxine Estevez of M6toll, said: “Our Drive for Charity in the Community scheme allows us to assist a wide range of good causes that make a genuine difference to the lives of local people.
“Being in hospital can be very stressful, so helping to pass that time in a pleasant and engaging way is a great service that we are proud to support.”
This year, M6toll’s online scheme saw £20,000 given to ‘charity of the year’ Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and dozens of smaller awards made to community projects. To find out more visit Here, or feel free to check out another Drive for Charity Article Here.
Back to newsTamworth football team scores with cash donation
A local junior football team will be kicking off the season with a brand-new sponsor after being backed with a £1,500 donation from M6toll.
Amington Emeralds Junior Football Team, based in Tamworth, have been selected as one of M6toll’s monthly Drive for Charity in the Community campaign winners.
The fund aims to support community groups and projects across the Midlands as part of a £45,000 initiative.
The team gives youngsters the opportunity to improve their skills and compete in football tournaments. The funding from M6toll will provide players with new kits and hats and gloves for winter training.
The club’s under-10s coach, Tony Lomas, said: “Amington Juniors provide lots of opportunities to local young people. We work with the players to boost their confidence, encourage relationship building and motivate fitness.
“The volunteers at the club are amazing and have a great connection with the players. Everyone works hard to encourage team spirit and to fund the club’s expenses.
“We are delighted to have received this funding from M6toll. The donation will be very much appreciated by players, parents and the coaches.”
Since the M6toll opened 15 years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes.
Maxine Estevez of M6toll, said: “We are proud to be supporting Amington Emeralds Junior Football Club, the club is a great benefit to young people in the local community.
“Our Drive for Charity scheme is all about supporting the towns and villages surrounding the toll road, so we are pleased to have been able to make this contribution.”
This year, M6toll’s online scheme saw £20,000 given to ‘charity of the year’ Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and dozens of smaller awards made to community projects. To find out more visit here.
You can also read another Drive for Charity Article Here to discover more of our work.
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