M6toll helps happy hens into their new home
A Cannock primary school’s ‘funky free-rangers’ project was given eggs-actly the boost it needed by the M6toll.
Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL), operators of the M6toll, chose St Luke’s Church of England Primary School to receive £2,000 of funding after hearing about their plans to rear chickens and sell the eggs.
The donation helped to purchase a selection of hens, a sturdy and safe hen house and chicken run which is located on the school field, enabling children to interact with the birds on a daily basis.
Assistant headteacher Mike Thornhill said: “We already have an allotment at the school, which provided a healthy harvest, but the children hatched a plan to set up their own Funky Free Rangers egg sales.
“The entire project has offered them an eggs-ellent learning eggs-perience – from developing a business plan and selling shares to help pay for the chicken feed, to creating their own marketing plan, complete with advert and jingle!
“They carefully researched hens and we travelled to the Domestic Fowl Trust in Stratford upon Avon to select ‘our girls’. We now have a crack team of hen handlers taking responsibility for the welfare of the hens, who are a much-loved addition to the school family.”
Representatives from MEL visited the school to meet the happy hens and find out how they had settled into their new home.
Sheena Hawkins, from M6toll, said: “You’d have to be really hard-boiled not to be inspired by the children’s plans for this project, which has helped them to develop their entrepreneurial skills as well as giving them a deeper understanding of where their food comes from.
“The way they have taken responsibility for the chickens is a credit to the school and its values of nurturing and taking care of others.
“We were treated to some of the first eggs that their girls had laid and they were delicious, so I’m certain this tasty business opportunity will be an eggs-traordinary success!”
M6toll recently launched its new community funding initiative – Drive For Charity. For more information about MEL’s charity support click here
You can also Read Another Drive for Charity Article Here.
Back to newsDrive For Charity along M6toll route
Britain’s only privately funded motorway has today launched a £45,000 scheme to support a wide range of community projects, charities and voluntary organisations across the Midlands.
M6toll’s Drive For Charity initiative has already donated more than £1million during the 15 years since the road opened, and the company is now calling on local people to help distribute this year’s cash.
An online competition 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 will be given away to charities, schools, sports clubs or voluntary organisations helping to enhance the lives of local people.
“We are also seeking applications for our Drive For Charity Partner 2019 – one special charity that will receive £20,000 as the main focus of our support for 12 months. The winner will be selected through an online vote, so all charities across the region are invited to apply.”
Nominations for monthly Drive For Charity in the Community funding and applications for the Drive For Charity Partner 2019 competition can be made at 142.93.39.117
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 Charity Committee keen to help those smaller causes that might not otherwise attract financial aid.
Andy added: “In recent years we have seen an increase in appeals for help from local charities, schools and sports clubs for whom an award of as little as £100 could mean the difference between children not taking part in football or proudly running out in a funded team kit.
“To name a few, last year we donated £500 towards the refurbishment of the children’s outpatient department at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield and £500 for arts and craft materials for Special Needs Adventure Playground (S.N.A.P) in Cannock.
“We look forward to supporting many more local groups to make a positive difference along the route of the M6toll.”
Click here for more information and to apply, or you can read another Drive for Charity Article Here to discover more about our campaign.
Back to newsSchool’s first aid project hailed a success thanks to M6toll
A Great Wyrley primary school is celebrating after 29 pupils passed a first aid course thanks to a £2,000 cash boost from a scheme linked to the M6toll road.
Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL), operators of the M6toll, chose Moat Hall Primary School to become one of its School Foundation Scheme winners.
The scheme aims to provide primary schools located within a five-mile radius of the M6toll with the opportunity to access funds for projects and activities that cannot be run through normal school funding.
The primary school, in John’s Lane, applied for the funding to help set up a first aid club for KS2 pupils and two teachers, with training provided by HMB Training Services.
Members of the school council had expressed pupils’ wishes that they wanted to be trained so that they would know how to react, either at school or at home, if there was a medical emergency.
Mrs Yvonne Dickens, who works with the school council, said: “The club is now an integral part of school life, empowering children with the skills, ability and confidence they need to help in an emergency.
“The children were incredibly dedicated during the six-week course. They will now be listed on a duty roster to cover the playground at breaktime, and they will also train other pupils by sharing their knowledge.”
Representatives from MEL attended a special assembly at the school during which the pupils were presented with their certificates and tabards, which they will wear while on duty.
Headteacher Jane King added: “It is a wonderful achievement and shows real determination, resilience and perseverance. We are incredibly proud of them.
“The children were so committed to the project that they had already started fundraising for it. We were therefore delighted to be chosen as winners of this very generous donation which meant that we could start the scheme much sooner than anticipated.”
Maxine Estevez, from M6toll, said: “The School Foundation applications were of an extremely high standard, and we found it difficult to choose a winner.
“Over the years, we have seen what a huge difference the funding can make, and we could see that the first aid scheme was extremely worthwhile. It is clear that the school and its pupils are very dedicated to making it a long-term success.”
M6toll will be launching its new community funding initiative – Drive For Charity – this spring. For more information about MEL’s charity support visit 142.93.39.117
You Can Read Another Drive for Charity Article Here.
Back to newsM6toll helps to create nurture room for primary school students
Funding from the M6toll has helped to create a safe, calm space for children at a Sutton Coldfield primary school.
A fully-equipped sensory and nurture room project, at St Anne’s Catholic Primary in Streetly, received £2,000 from Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL), operators of the M6toll, through its School Foundation Scheme.
Trish Johnston, head teacher at St Anne’s Primary School, said: “The idea behind the nurture room was to create a safe, calm and comforting space in the school where we could support the mental health and wellbeing of children.
“The room provides students and staff with a quiet place to talk about things that are troubling them, such as family illness or bereavement, and a suitable setting for therapy for those children with an educational healthcare plan.
“We are so grateful for the funding from M6toll which helped with the cost of equipping the room with comfy bean bags, sensory lighting and a water feature, as well as a fantastic relaxing mural.
“The room is already demonstrating its worth, allowing us to fully care for the children’s emotional needs and wellbeing in a safe and appropriate setting.”
The M6toll’s School Foundation Scheme was set up to provide primary schools located within a five-mile radius of the M6toll with the opportunity to access funds for projects and activities that cannot be run through normal school funding.
Maxine Estevez, from M6toll, said: “Increasingly young children are having to cope with stress that they can find hard to deal with. This excellent initiative from St Anne’s Primary School has created a lovely nurture room where they can be supported, and we are very proud to have donated towards such a good project.”
M6toll will be launching its new community funding initiative – Drive For Charity – this spring. For more information about MEL’s charity support visit 142.93.39.117, or read more on Our Work in the Community Here.
Back to newsM6toll funds uniforms for Staffordshire charity
A donation from the M6toll has kitted out 14 volunteers at a Staffordshire charity that tackles social isolation and loneliness.
Kendall & Wall Charitable Trust was selected to receive £598.62 of funding from the Social Committee of Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL), operators of the M6toll, to purchase new uniforms for its volunteer staff.
The group, which was granted charity status last year, aims to tackle social isolation, particularly amongst elderly and disabled people.
Julie Paylor, fundraising coordinator at Kendall & Wall Charitable Trust said: “We were thrilled when the M6toll’s Social Committee awarded us a grant to enable us to purchase new uniforms for the volunteers.
“We provide wheelchair accessible outings for elderly and disabled people. From bowling and meals out, to stately home visits and garden parties, there are more than 120 people who use our services.
“The trust was delighted to be awarded The Queen’s award last year and the logo takes pride of place on our new uniforms.”
Mike Wall, one of the founders of Kendall & Wall Charitable Trust, said: “We started this group with just one minibus and we’re delighted to have recently purchased a second.
“I am a retired doctor and, when working with the community, I realised there was a need for a service that encouraged interaction and inclusion. We bring people together who find it difficult to get out and about to socialise.
“We are so grateful to M6toll for their support, both in providing a mobility exemption card, which we use frequently as we travel along the toll road to pick up and drop off our clients, and for supplying our fantastic new uniforms – our volunteers truly look the part.”
MEL Social Committee member Sheena Hawkins said: “We always like to take the opportunity to support local causes and Kendall & Wall Charitable Trust do fantastic work with the community.
“When the social committee heard about this team of dedicated volunteers, we were delighted to be able to hand over a cheque to purchase their new t-shirts and fleeces.”
Discover More of Our Community Work Here.
M6toll funds free Lego Club in Sutton Coldfield library
FOLIO Sutton Coldfield were able to purchase resources for a free Lego club, thanks to a donation from Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL), operators of the M6toll, through its social committee, which provides funding for projects in the local community.
FOLIO Sutton Coldfield is made up of local residents who want to see their library thrive at the heart of their community. The group raise funds to host events and facilitate projects that support public libraries in the area.
Following consultation with Sutton Coldfield residents to understand what they felt was missing from their local library; the group found there was high demand for a Lego Club, which could also provide sought after volunteering opportunities for teenagers.
Local mother and MEL Social Committee member, Jo Brett suggested FOLIO apply to the M6toll for funding to support this project. The application was successful and MEL donated £968 for the resources needed to start the club.
The Lego club is already a huge success for the library and will be running one Saturday a month throughout 2019. With the resources, FOLIO have also started a Lego Club for children who are home-schooled which will run fortnightly at Sutton Coldfield library.
Zoe Toft, Chair of FOLIO Sutton Coldfield said: “We were thrilled when the M6toll Social Committee awarded us a grant to enable us to set up a regular Lego club in Sutton Coldfield library.
“We knew it was going to be popular – and indeed all our sessions up till Christmas were fully booked within 24 hours. It’s brilliant for us to be able to offer another family activity in our much loved local library. Our Lego clubs not only feature building, creativity and lots of laughter, we have plenty of Lego books to browse and borrow too. I’d just like to say a massive thank you to the Social Committee of the M6toll for making this possible”.
MEL Social Committee member, Jo Brett said: “I encouraged FOLIO to apply to the M6toll Social Committee for funding after seeing how much work they do in the community. Its lovely to see them attracting more visitors to Sutton Coldfield Library and encouraging local families to use the services available to them. The Lego club has been immensely popular so far, and I’m sure it will continue to grow”.
Dates for the Lego club can be found here www.bookwhen.com/foliosuttoncoldfield
More information about FOLIO Sutton Coldfield can be found here www.foliosuttoncoldfield.org.uk
MEL’s donation forms part of a wider initiative to support local schools and community projects. MEL’s Social Committee work closely with members of staff to choose those community projects close to their hearts which will benefit from a donation from the Drive for Charity fund.
You can read another article about Our Community Work Here.
Back to newsVery Important Puppy Visits M6toll
Very Important Puppy Visits M6toll
The seven-month-old yellow Labrador, sponsored by Midland Expressway Ltd (operators of the M6toll), explored the sights and sounds at Norton Canes, which was recently awarded the top spot by customers in research by independent transport watchdog Transport Focus, with his Guide Dogs puppy walker Neil Wade.
The pair also visited the M6toll’s headquarters at Weeford to be introduced to the team that run Britain’s only privately funded motorway.
Andy Cliffe, chief executive of M6toll, said: “We are always proud to support charities and organisations that help people across our region, through our Drive For Charity community funding awards.
“Dodger is the fourth Guide Dog puppy we have sponsored, and it was fantastic to see how his training is progressing. He took the sights and sounds of the service station in his stride and was very well behaved at our offices.”
Dodger and Neil were joined by Guide Dogs local fundraiser Madeline West with CJ, a seven-year-old retriever, who also volunteers to support local puppy walkers.
Mary Conner, for Guide Dogs, added: “Almost two million people in the UK are living with sight loss, and being partnered with a dog is life-changing. Without the generous sponsorship of organisations like the M6toll, we would not be able to continue to train the puppies needed to restore independence and confidence in visually impaired people.”
Details of community and charity support work undertaken by M6toll under its Drive For Charity programme can be found at 142.93.39.117
Mark Fox, Roadchef CEO, said: “It’s incredibly important to us that customers who have a disability have a relaxing and comfortable experience when visiting one of our service areas and we provide disabled parking, accessible toilets and hotel rooms at Roadchef Norton Canes, as well as a state of the art Changing Place facility.
“Guide dogs are welcome in all of our sites and our team members are always on hand to help those who may require extra assistance.”
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.
To read more, check out Another M6toll Article Here.
Back to newsFree Ride for Charity Event
More than 2,000 motorcyclists are expected to steam through the M6toll booths free of charge next week as part of the Ride to the Wall.
The annual charity event attracts bikers from across the UK and overseas, all riding to the Armed Forces Memorial to pay their respects to serving and fallen service men and women and raise funds for the National Memorial Arboretum.
This year’s ride takes place on Saturday 6th October with bikers meeting at the NMA at 10.30am.
Andy Cliffe, chief executive of M6toll, said: “We have a long-standing commitment to the welfare of our local community and have proudly supported the Ride to the Wall charity since it started a decade ago.
“Once again, we are honoured to provide free passage to the participating riders travelling with the official groups on their inbound journey to the National Memorial Arboretum, enabling them to save more than £6,000 of toll costs.”
Motorcyclists will set off from seven different starting points across the Midlands, assembling at the NMA for an act of remembrance.
More than 2,000 registered bikes are expected to travel in official groups, accompanied by volunteer marshals, along the M6toll and through T4 (Weeford) and T5 (Shenstone) plazas between 10am and 11am.
All lanes at both plazas will show a green arrow to allow the Ride to the Wall participants to flow freely through. Police will also be present at Weeford Island to control the traffic lights, easing the passage of the riders on their way to the arboretum.
Martin Dickinson, Founder of Ride to the Wall, added: “The annual event raises considerable funds for the National Memorial Arboretum, so we are grateful for the support of M6toll in making this route affordable for all the bikers taking part.
“We have more than 4,000 riders registered for this year’s event and a team of volunteer marshals on hand to ensure a smooth and successful Ride to the Wall 2018.”
Anyone interested in supporting the Ride to the Wall charity can find out more at www.rttw.org
The National Memorial Arboretum is part of The Royal British Legion family of charities, which provides a permanent home to the Armed Forces Memorial. For more information visit www.thenma.org.uk
Arternatively, check out an article on the M6toll’s Drive for Charity Work Here.
Back to newsM6toll fund Troop Aid emergency grab bags for Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship
After receiving an application for funding from Troop Aid towards a new project which sees them providing emergency Grab Bags to a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship when deployed on humanitarian duties, Staff from Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL) visited Troop Aid to present them with a cheque for £480. With each Grab Bag costing £30, the M6toll funding amounts to 16 of the emergency bags.
Since it was founded in November 2006 by three ex-servicemen, Troop Aid based in Solihull, has produced Grab Bags for injured service personnel who have been admitted to hospital without any of their personal effects or clothing. The Grab Bags contain items such as toiletries, underwear, T-shirts and shorts that help enable wounded servicemen and women to maintain dignity at a time of personal crisis.
This is not the first time that the M6toll have supported Troop Aid. During 2014 and 2015, the charity received a £10,000 donation from the M6toll after being chosen as one of its Drive for Charity partners. At this time the donation amounted to the provision of 400 Grab Bags for injured service personnel.
Pam Sutton, Troop Aid secretary said: “The Team at Troop Aid are delighted to be supported by the M6toll in their work supplying basic essentials to injured military personnel. From the feedback we receive, we know that these bags are very much appreciated by the injured servicemen and women and this recent donation will pay for Grab Bags for Naval Staff on-board the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, Argos, when it goes abroad on humanitarian work”.
MEL Social Committee Member, Sheena Hawkins said: “It was a pleasure to be able to visit the Troop Aid premises and see first-hand how essential these bags are for our injured troops. This is the first time Troop Aid will have provided support to the Royal Navy whilst at Sea and I’m thrilled we were able to contribute to this new project for the charity”.
More information about Troop Aid can be found here: http://troopaid.info/
MEL’s donation forms part of a wider initiative to support local schools and community projects. MEL’s Social Committee work closely with members of staff to choose those community projects close to their hearts which will benefit from a donation from the Drive for Charity fund.
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 142.93.39.117 for further information or email d4c@m6toll.co.uk
You can also Read Another Drive for Charity Article Here.
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