M6toll backs Birmingham breast cancer charity
A Birmingham-based charity dedicated to supporting people affected by breast cancer from across the West Midlands, has received £1,500 donation from M6toll to fund a book for children.
Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer (LFBC) Charitable Trust was selected as one of the M6toll’s monthly winners for its Drive for Charity in the Community campaign. The M6toll charity fund aims to support community groups and projects across the Midlands as part of a £45,000 initiative.
LFBC will use the money to print and promote a children’s book entitled ‘Goodbye to Cansie Cancer’. The book, commissioned by LFBC and written by children’s author Joan Blaney CBE, Hon DEd, has been designed to help mothers diagnosed with Breast Cancer explain the disease and its effects to their children in a non-frightening, yet factual way.
Breast Cancer survivor Ann McNaughton, from LFBC, said: “I am delighted that LFBC will be receiving the money for what is such a wonderful project. As a mother and recovered breast cancer patient, I have personally received tremendous support over the years from LFBC, which has helped me through some extremely difficult and challenging times. The charity provides a broad range of support from real hair wigs and specialist bras through to a support group and choir.
“This little book will help free children of any blame they may feel as it explains how cancer happens, its harmful effects and how it can be treated. We want to make it available to newly-diagnosed mothers in local hospitals, clinics and health establishments. We also want to sell it to raise much-needed funds to enable LFBC to continue its critical charitable work.”
Since the M6toll opened 15 years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes. This year, its online scheme will donate £20,000 to one ‘charity of the year’, with dozens of smaller awards made to community projects.
Maxine Estevez, from M6toll, said: “When our charity committee heard about the amazing work that LFBC Charitable Trust does and its latest book project, we were delighted to grant the donation. Diagnosis of cancer is devastating news for a family and the treatment that follows, which often results in emotional and physical changes, can be a daunting experience for children. This book is a fantastic resource and we’re proud to support it.”
In total, £43,000 will be distributed through the scheme, with a further £2,000 set aside for charity appeals suggested by M6toll staff.
The M6toll runs for 27 miles, from Junction 3a on the M6 all the way round the North East of the West Midlands, re-joining the M6 at Junction 11a. The road has an exemplary safety record and is equipped with emergency telephones, 24-hour control room and mobile Incident Support Units.
Read another article about Our Community Work Here.
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity wins £20k prize
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has scooped £20,000 to fund its Sky Champs Education Programme thanks to an online public vote.
The lifesaving organisation polled the highest support from people across the region to be named M6toll’s Drive for Charity Partner 2019-20, with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust securing £8,000 as runner-up.
The funding initiative is part of the motorway’s £45,000 scheme to support a wide range of community projects, charities and voluntary organisations across the Midlands.
M6toll chief executive Andy Cliffe said: “Since the M6toll opened 15 years ago, we have donated more than £1million to regional good causes.
“We are delighted that the public got behind Midlands Air Ambulance Charity to vote them as our Drive for Charity Partner and we look forward to working alongside them over the next 12 months.”
The Sky Champs Education Programme offers engaging activities for Early Years and Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils through a series of free, downloadable resources.
Emma Gray, fundraising and marketing director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “The M6toll has been a committed and supportive partner to the charity for 15 years, and we are truly grateful to them, and to everyone who voted for us, for the opportunity to further develop our Sky Champs Education Programme.
“Sky Champs has proven to be a vital tool in supporting young children’s education, bringing lessons to life with real examples from Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. As it is National Curriculum-based, lesson planning is simple, and classwork is both fun and engaging. Thanks to the support from M6toll, we will be expanding the programme to enable us to reach more schools within the six counties we cover.”
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust will use its £8,000 runner-up prize to fund a series of community engagement sessions, encouraging children and families to spend more time outdoors.
Shelley Pattison, senior community engagement officer (Tamworth) for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We were thrilled to hear we had been shortlisted alongside so many other fantastic causes, so to win the runner-up prize has given us a great deal of pride.
“As part of our Wild About Tamworth project, we will use this money to create sessions for people of all ages in Tamworth to get them outdoors, be more connected with nature and to improve physical and mental health.
“The Wild About Tamworth project is now in its 15th year and has been supporting communities to look after their local green spaces since it launched. This funding will allow us to expand our engagement level in the area and we’re really excited about it.”
In addition to its charity of the year, M6toll also offers a monthly cash fund of up to £1,500 for local schools, sports clubs or voluntary groups through its Drive for Charity in the Community scheme. Applications can be made at 142.93.39.117/about-us/drive-for-charity
Andy Cliffe added: “We look forward to supporting many more local groups to make a positive difference along the route of the M6toll.”
The M6toll runs for 27 miles, from Junction 3a on the M6 all the way round the North East of the West Midlands, re-joining the M6 at Junction 11a. The road has an exemplary safety record and is equipped with emergency telephones, 24-hour control room and mobile Incident Support Units.
Read Another Article on our Drive for Charity Work Here.
Midlands charity steaming ahead after cash boost
A charity that is working to open the disused South Staffordshire railway as a leisure greenway has received £1,500 donation from M6toll.
Back the Track, a group of 12 volunteers, was selected as one of the M6toll’s monthly winners for its Drive for Charity in the Community campaign.
The fund aims to support community groups and projects across the Midlands as part of a £45,000 initiative.
The charity is actively working to open the disused South Staffordshire railway between Walsall and Lichfield as a leisure greenway, providing a range of benefits to the local community. It will use the donation to fund a container to house maintenance equipment
Mick Roseblade, from the charity, said: “We are a group of twelve, mostly retired, individuals who meet on workdays to remove litter, manage trees, improve pathways on the disused railway. We have currently hired diggers to provide improved drainage and are also working to introduce new access points to Chasewater and the Wyrley/Essington canal towpaths.
“We are delighted to have received this funding, which will purchase a new container to house tools necessary for the provision and long-term maintenance of the greenway.
“By providing new walkways and cycle paths, introducing flora and fauna, benches, improved access, and encouraging wildlife, we are hoping it will get people outdoors.
“We are inviting walking clubs, cyclists, dog walkers and the general public to increasingly use this traffic free greenway – providing health benefits to all users.”
Since the M6toll opened 15 years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes.
This year, its online scheme will see £20,000 given to one ‘charity of the year’, and dozens of smaller awards made to community projects.
Andy Cliffe, chief executive of M6toll, said: “We are proud to be supporting Back the Track and what is a fantastic facility for the community. It’s lovely to hear about the volunteers who take the time to preserve, maintain and enhance this space.
“We care about the towns and villages surrounding the toll road and our Drive For Charity scheme is designed to support them.”
In total, £43,000 will be distributed through the scheme, with a further £2,000 set aside for charity appeals suggested by M6toll staff.
The M6toll runs for 27 miles, from Junction 3a on the M6 all the way round the North East of the West Midlands, re-joining the M6 at Junction 11a. The road has an exemplary safety record and is equipped with emergency telephones, 24-hour control room and mobile Incident Support Units.
Back to newsBurntwood Football Club Nets Cash Boost
A grassroots football club in Burntwood has received £1,500 donation from M6toll to fund security improvements at its ground.
Burntwood Dragons and Phoenix football club was selected as one of the M6toll’s monthly winners for its Drive for Charity in the Community campaign.
The charity fund aims to support community groups and projects across the Midlands as part of a £45,000 initiative.
Burntwood Dragons and Phoenix football club has more than 500 members, with 27 teams, comprising boys and girls aged 4-years upwards. The club will use the money for repairs following vandalism, and the installation of a new CCTV security system.
Alison Mayne, from the club, said: “Unfortunately our club has been victim to vandalism, with damage to signage, gates and locks and it’s really disheartening for the players, coaches and volunteers.
“This funding couldn’t have come at a better time as we can now make the repairs and put the necessary provisions in place to avoid this happening in the future. We’re extremely grateful to the team at M6toll for its support.”
Since the M6toll opened 15 years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes.
This year, its online scheme will see £20,000 given to one ‘charity of the year’, and dozens of smaller awards made to community projects.
Maxine Estevez, from M6toll, said: “Grassroot football clubs like Burntwood Dragons and Phoenix always play such a huge part in local communities. It’s lovely to hear about the volunteers who coach and develop these children who are so passionate about the sport and their club.
“Our commitment to the welfare of our local community doesn’t end when people drive through the toll booths. We care about the towns and villages surrounding the motorway and our Drive For Charity scheme is designed to support them.”
In total, £43,000 will be distributed through the scheme, with a further £2,000 set aside for charity appeals suggested by M6toll staff.
The M6toll runs for 27 miles, from Junction 3a on the M6 all the way round the North East of the West Midlands, re-joining the M6 at Junction 11a. The road has an exemplary safety record and is equipped with emergency telephones, 24-hour control room and mobile Incident Support Units.
Discover more of the Great Work Funded By Drive For Charity Here.
Back to newsCommunity fund boost for sensory garden
A recreational charity for people with special and additional needs has received a £1,500 cash boost to improve a sensory garden.
SNAP (Special Needs Adventure Playground) in Cannock was selected as the M6toll’s first Drive for Charity in the Community winner.
The charity fund aims to support community groups and projects across the Midlands as part of a £45,000 initiative.
Samantha Scrimshaw, Life Skills worker at SNAP, said: “We provide indoor and outdoor activity sessions for both adults and children with special needs.
“Our playground has lots of equipment to improve gross motor skills, such as climbing frames, but the facilities to stimulate the senses of our visitors need some improvement. We aim to purchase wind chimes, water play and sensory plants to help them to understand their emotions and develop sensory processing, supporting their social interaction and communications skills.
“We are so grateful to M6toll for this fantastic donation, which will make a huge difference to the project.”
The Pye Green Road facility provides a wide range of activities to support people with special needs and their families, from autism-friendly hairdressing and Makaton, to messy play and Lego sessions.
Since the M6toll opened 15 years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes.
This year, an online scheme will see £20,000 given to one ‘charity of the year’, and dozens of smaller awards made to community projects.
Andy Cliffe, chief executive of M6toll, said: “Our commitment to the welfare of our local community doesn’t end when people drive through the toll booths. We care about the towns and villages surrounding the motorway and our Drive For Charity scheme is designed to support them.
“A monthly cash fund of up to £1,500 is available for charities, schools, sports clubs or voluntary organisations helping to enhance the lives of local people.”
In total, £43,000 will be distributed through the scheme, with a further £2,000 set aside for charity appeals suggested by M6toll staff.
Organisations can apply for a funding boost of up to £1,500, with the M6toll Drive for Charity Committee keen to help those smaller causes that might not otherwise attract financial aid.
Details of community and charity support work undertaken by M6toll under its Drive For Charity programme can be found at here.
To read another article on our Drive for Charity work, Click Here.
Back to newsRonald McDonald House Birmingham
Ronald McDonald House Charities UK launches new family room funded by M6toll
Ronald McDonald House Charities UK has launched a brand-new family room at its Birmingham House for families of hospitalised children, thanks to a £20,000 donation from M6toll.
M6toll donated £20,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities UK through its Drive for Charity campaign, which over the last 15 years has donated more than £1 million to good causes across the region. The funding has enabled the charity to design a new recreational room in their Birmingham House, which is to be known as the ‘teenage lounge’, dedicated to sick children’s siblings who are staying in the House.
The charity provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families with children in hospital. They currently run 12 Houses across the UK including a 66 bedroom House in Birmingham. Over the last ten years the Birmingham House has housed more than 7,000 families, whose children are based in Birmingham Children’s hospital.
The launch event welcomed representatives from M6toll, families staying in the House and VIPs, including Anita Bhalla OBE and the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham, to the launch of its new teenage lounge.
Andy Cliffe, chief executive at M6toll said: “It is vital that businesses engage and support local communities and it is a real pleasure and honour for us to be able to fund this room. It is a fabulous charity and we hope the new facility can be used by many families for many years to come.”
Natalie Wood, corporate fundraiser at Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, said: “We’re delighted to open our new teenage lounge, which has kindly been refurnished thanks to a grant from M6toll.
“As an independent charity, we rely on generous donations from local communities and businesses. For us to have a partnership with a company like M6toll has been amazing, especially as we hope it will help alleviate some of the anxiety associated with having a seriously ill sister or brother in hospital”
Olivia Saxelby, a parent who is currently staying in Ronald McDonald House Birmingham, said: “The new room is incredible and will provide the perfect space for siblings and parents to relax and take a moment to step away from the stresses of hospital life.”
In total, £43,000 will be distributed through the company’s Drive for Charity Partner scheme this year, with additional monthly donations of up to £1,500 continuing throughout the year through the Drive for Charity in the Community scheme.
Details of community and charity support work undertaken by M6toll under its Drive for Charity programme can be found at 142.93.39.117
Alternatively, you can read another Drive for Charity Article Here to discover more about our campaign.
Back to newsMotorway Support for Birmingham Hospice
A Birmingham charity has received support from the M6toll to maintain its infection control procedures.
Funds from the motorway’s Drive for Charity scheme were used by Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice to purchase ten new hands-free silent closing bins, which will be placed in patient rooms at the Hospice in Selly Park.
Pamela Hodgetts, corporate partnerships officer at Birmingham St Mary’s, explained: “At Birmingham St Mary’s, we help people and their loved ones to live well when they’ve been diagnosed with an incurable illness, by providing our expert care in people’s homes, in the community and at the Hospice itself. That’s why we’d like to say a really big thank you to the M6toll for this thoughtful donation – the bins will help prevent the spread of infection at our Inpatient Unit at the Hospice, helping to boost patient safety and wellbeing.
“On any given day, the Hospice is caring for 400 people living across Birmingham and Sandwell. Providing them with the care and support they need costs more than £8million a year, so help purchasing essential supplies like this is vital.”
Information about the work of Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice can be found at www.birminghamhospice.org.uk.
Since the M6toll opened 15 years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes.
This year, an online scheme will see £20,000 given to one ‘charity of the year’, and dozens of smaller awards made to community projects.
Maxine Estevez from M6toll, added: “Hospices provide an invaluable service to our local communities. We learned that their old bins were no longer suitable, one reason being they were not soft closing. It had never occurred to us how distressing noisy slamming bins could be to patients, so we are pleased to be able to help resolve this.”
Details of community and charity support work undertaken by M6toll under its Drive For Charity programme can be found here.
Read Another Article on our Drive for Charity Work Here.
Back to newsFantastic Five Shortlisted for £20k Cash Boost
Five worthy Midlands organisations have been shortlisted for a £20,000 community cash boost.
The M6toll has announced the finalists for its Drive for Charity Partner 2019, who will now go head-to-head in an online vote, with the group amassing the most votes scooping the top prize and a further £8,000 for the runner-up.
The shortlisted organisations are:
- Buddy Bags Foundation
- Hospital Radio Stafford
- Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
- Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
- Stephen Sutton Multi-Academy Trust
Andy Cliffe, chief executive of M6toll, said: “Our Drive For Charity initiative has already donated more than £1million during the 15 years since the road opened.
“This year we wanted to work with an organisation that would be a partner in the fullest sense of the word. We asked all the applicants to the scheme to tell us how we could support their projects through marketing and PR, fundraising and volunteering opportunities.
“More than 160 charities, schools and voluntary groups applied to be our 2019 partner, giving our Social Committee a tough task to select the final five, but we are delighted with those going forward to the public vote.
“Each of these fantastic organisations provides vital services for people across the Midlands, enhancing the lives of those living in our region.”
The online vote is live from Thursday 6 June till Tuesday 16 July, and the overall Drive for Charity Partner 2019 winner will be announced on Thursday 15 August 2019.
The Drive for Charity 2019 scheme was launched in March by Midland Expressway Ltd, operators of the M6toll. In total, £43,000 will be distributed through the initiative, with additional monthly donations of up to £1,500 continuing throughout the year through the Drive for Charity in the Community scheme. You can read about more of Our Community Work Here.
Back to newsHow Troop Aid sent an M6toll donation all around the world
Since we opened in 2003, M6toll’s Drive For Charity initiative has given away more than £1million to good causes. Now we are calling on charities and local people to help us distribute the cash. The scheme will see £20,000 given to one ‘charity of the year’, and dozens of smaller awards and support for community projects.
In 2014/15, one of our partners was Solihull-based Troop Aid – a small charity which operates globally, ensuring British servicemen and women receive grab bags containing necessities when they arrive at hospitals and medical centres, no matter where they’re serving. We’re proud to have been able to provide £10,000 to supply these packages for injured troops at home and abroad.
We caught up with Pam Sutton, who works tirelessly to secure funding to provide even more of these essential packs.
“The contribution from the M6toll was invaluable. We’re proud to say that all the funds we receive go exactly where you expect – into packing bags for the troops. We were able to send these supplies to 400 people who were injured in service, so when they arrive into care they have toiletries, clothes and the basics to get by.”
Since the initial donation, we have continued to support Troop Aid wherever we can.
“The support we’ve received has been immensely beneficial. The team have been supplied with TAGs, which means we can send more deliveries out, and be more time-efficient as an organisation. All the money saved using the TAGs has helped us to provide even more bags for the troops.
“We’ve also been invited to attend open days at Roadchef Norton Canes services, where we can hand out information to the visitors and raise awareness of Troop Aid. It is such an effective way of spreading the word and getting fundraisers on board.”
We continue to support local charities and community projects. Our Social Committee provided the team at Troop Aid with further funding last year in support of a new project enabling them to provide emergency grab bags to a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship.
The application process to become our Charity Partner for 2019/20 is now open. The winner will receive funding in the sum of £20,000 with the runner up receiving £8,000. Further information and an application form to become our Drive For Charity partner is available on our Drive for Charity page.
To have a closer look at all the great work Troop Aid does, or to see how you could help them, visit www.troopaid.info
Discover More of our Drive for Charity Work Here.
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