Pall-Ex Group has marked the end of its 25th Anniversary celebrations by hand delivering donations to 25 charities across the UK in the count down towards Christmas.
Travelling over 1,700 miles in six days, members of Group Marketing team visited charities in a range of different locations, spanning the entire length and breadth of the country, with stops in Ipswich, Motherwell and even the Isle of Wight.
The team delivered a cheque for £1,000 to each of the 25 charities during the six day marathon.
Each charity was nominated by a Pall-Ex Group member or an employee and this reflected in the variety of charities chosen.
Pall-Ex and Fortec members were asked to put forward charities local to them or close to their heart, which they believed were deserving of such a donation.
The 25 charities selected were then announced during Pall-Ex Group’s glittering 25th Anniversary celebration at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole in mid-November, which was hosted by Cold Feet and The Hobbit star, James Nesbitt.
Every single one of the charities selected performs incredible work and the below provides some information about each of them and why they were nominated.
1: LOROS
LOROS provides free, specialist and high-quality care to more than 2,500 terminally ill people a year in the Leicestershire area and it is known for the amazing care it continues to provide.
From short stay inpatient care, to day therapy and counselling, LOROS delivers a whole suite of services to improve the quality of life for terminally ill people in the area.
The hospice, in Leicester, was nominated by two members of staff from Pall-Ex shareholder member Trucklink.EU, who have raised funds for the charity in the past.
To find out more and donate to LOROS, please visit: https://loros.co.uk/ways-to-donate-to-loros.
2: Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation
Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation supports a wide range of individuals in Markfield and the surrounding Leicestershire area. Working with the elderly, adults with disabilities and young people, the charity aims to make every day better through outdoor and wellbeing activities, as well as providing inspiring support services.
The charity was nominated by Pall-Ex Group staff members because of the services it provides to the local community.
To find out more about Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation, or to donate, please visit: https://www.shuttlewood-clarke.org/donations/.
3: Martin House Children’s Hospice
Martin House Children’s Hospice in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, provides family-led care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions from across West, East and North Yorkshire.
Supporting families, as well as the children and young people, is important to Martin House and it continues to develop its services to deliver leading care to those who need it most.
The charity was nominated by Tom Clarke of Pall-Ex and Fortec shareholder member YDL, for the vital support that Martin House provides to the local community.
To learn more about and donate to Martin House Children’s Hospice, please visit: https://www.martinhouse.org.uk/Donate.
4: The Apuldram Centre
The Apuldram Centre, Chichester, continues to support adults with learning disabilities after more than 30 years. By providing a community outreach service as well as its dedicated day centre, which offers woodwork, cookery, arts and crafts and other occupational activities, The Apuldram Centre supports many people in Chichester and the surrounding area.
Nominated by John Parker, of Pall-Ex shareholder member Bottrills Transport, The Apuldram Centre is a vital part of the community.
To find out more about the Apuldram Centre and to donate, please visit: https://www.apuldram.org/donate/.
5: Sands
Sands is the UK’s leading baby charity, working with each of the four nations to reduce the number of babies dying and vitally, to ensure that anyone affected by the death of a baby receives the best possible care and support for as long as they need it.
Last year, Sands supported over 2 million people and families impacted by their loss. It exists to:
Provide free bereavement and wellbeing support to anyone impacted by baby loss for as long as they need it.
Work with, and support, NHS staff and healthcare professionals to provide quality bereavement care.
Promote research and advocacy for sustainable improvements in healthcare and policy to improve the outcomes for those who are most at risk of pregnancy and baby loss.
Nominated by a member of the team at Pall-Ex shareholder member, Neill & Brown Global Logistics, Sands continues to be the leading baby charity in the UK.
To find out more and to donate to Sands, please visit: https://www.sands.org.uk/get-involved/donate-sands.
6: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity funds and operates three air ambulance helicopters and two critical care cars that serve six Midlands counties, plus secondary cover for surrounding areas such as Warwickshire and Mid Wales. The Midlands Air Ambulance provides critical care to anyone across the region who needs it, with the helicopters ensuring that a patient can reach a specialist hospital within 15 minutes from anywhere within the midlands.
Its life-saving missions are funded entirely by charitable donations and the £1,000 will help to fund around four critical care car missions.
Nominated by Harry Marshall, Pall-Ex Group employee, you can find out more about and donate to the charity here: https://www.midlandsairambulance.com/donatenow.
"The Midlands Air Ambulance is an amazing charity that relies on donations for its funding. The work they carry out saves lives across the region and having had first-hand experience of the service it provides, I wanted to nominate the charity for a very worthy donation.”
7: MND Association
The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association is a membership organisation with over 10,000 members, working to improve the lives of people affected by MND, now and in the future.
MND gradually stops messages from the motor neurones reaching the muscles. This leads the muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste. MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe, is life-shortening and there is no cure.
The charity works to fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments of MND, with the vision to one day live in a world free of MND.
Nominated by Dave Webster, from Fortec shareholder member Brocklehurst Transport, awareness of the charity has grown recently as a result of Rob Burrow’s campaigning and that of his former Leeds Rhinos team mate, Kevin Sinfield OBE.
To support MND Association, please visit: https://www.mndassociation.org/get-involved/donations/.
8: Rainbows Hospice
Based in Loughborough, Rainbows Hospice works to provide care for children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions across the East Midlands.
The charity relies on donations for around 85% of its total funding, so donations such as the £1,000 from Pall-Ex Group really do make a difference and helps Rainbows continue to its work with families to create memories to treasure and support every child and young person to achieve their potential.
Voted for by Harry Laverick at Pall-Ex Group, Rainbows has been working to support the community in the East Midlands since 1994.
To find out more and to donate to Rainbows, please visit: https://www.rainbows.co.uk/donate.
9: The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
Launched in 2008 by legendary footballer and manager, Sir Bobby Robson, whilst he battled cancer for the fifth time, The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation funds projects within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that help cancer patients across the north east and Cumbria, and also contributes significantly to international research into the disease.
A legacy of the great man, the charity relies solely on charitable donations and does not employ any professional fundraisers.
The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation was nominated by lifelong Newcastle fan Richard Moody, of Pall-Ex shareholder member Moody Logistics and Storage.
To learn more about the charity and to donate, please visit: https://www.committedgiving.uk.net/newcastlehospitals/public/index.aspx?content=Sir%20Bobby%20Robson%20Foundation
10: Mountbatten Hospice Isle of Wight
Mountbatten Isle of Wight promotes and provides quality care and support for people on the Isle of Wight affected by death, dying or bereavement.
Aiming to create a world where all people who are dying and their families have access to expert, compassionate care, the charity provides a valuable and vital support service for countless families on the Isle of Wight.
Mountbatten was nominated by Chris Hall of Isle of Wight Distribution, who has worked tirelessly in recent years to support the hospice and raise funds so it can continue to deliver its vital care.
To know more about Mountbatten and to support the hospice, please visit: https://www.mountbatten.org.uk/donate/donate-to-mountbatten/30/credit-card.
"Isle of Wight Distribution has recently participated in a fundraising day "Go Yellow Day" and raised almost £2,000 for the Hospice. Pall-Ex contributed by donning the T-shirts that one of our partners provided. We currently have two members of staff that are currently receiving treatment from the hospice, so this charity is close to our hearts here at Isle of Wight Distribution.”
11: Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice
Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice in Arundel, West Sussex, provides families with the opportunity to make the most of the life they have together, living life to the full, and allowing them to say goodbye in a way that is right for them. Children can be who they want to be at Chestnut Tree House with plenty of activities for them to enjoy, whilst parents can be parents, rather than carers. Care isn’t just provided at the Hospice in Arundel though, as nurses perform visits to children at home, taking them on days out to explore their local community, which not only supports the child but the family too, as they are able to take a break.
Nominated by Emma Lindsley at Fortec member, F & G Transport, the charity is widely known in the region for the support it offers to both children and their families in the hospice and at home.
To support Chestnut Tree House, please visit: https://donate.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/?dontype=single&_ga=2.125520841.2123646506.1638213715-1462045829.1637338932.
12: Leicester Hospitals Charity
Leicester Hospitals Charity works to ensure that patients, visitors and staff have the best possible experience in any of Leicester’s three main hospitals.
Covering Leicester Royal Infirmary, the Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital, the charity raises funds to support and facilitate improvements in these hospitals, helping the wider Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland community.
The charity is currently raising funds to increase capacity in the Leicester Royal Infirmary’s Chemotherapy Suite, and if successful, will provide access to almost 4,000 more treatments a year.
This charity was nominated by Rebecca (Bee) Hill from Pall-Ex Group, and you can support it by visiting: https://www.leicesterhospitalscharity.org.uk/donate.
13: The Russ Devereux Headlight Project
The Russ Devereux Headlight Project was founded in memory of Russ Devereux, who was part of the family business, Devereux Transport.
In 2018, Russ took his own life and his wife, Catherine Devereux set up the Headlight Project in his legacy and the charity has a primary focus on providing support to families and individuals who have suffered traumatic bereavement.
The Project works in schools to offer one-to-one counselling and play therapy, as well as working in partnership with local organisations to raise awareness of mental health in the workplace and suicide prevention.
The charity was nominated by the Devereux Family from Devereux Transport, a Fortec and Pall-Ex shareholder member.
To learn more about the Headlight Project or to donate, please visit: https://www.headlightproject.org/donate/.
"This charity is very close to our hearts, following the sudden death of Russell Devereux, who took his own life in 2018. The charity has been set up by his wife Catherine and his three young daughters left behind. The charity has a particular focus in supporting individuals and families who have been affected by suicide and mental health.”
14: Chris’s House
Chris’s House in Wishaw, Scotland, was founded by Anne Rowan in memory of her son Chris, who she lost to suicide in 2011.
Chris’s House stands for ‘Centre of Help, Response and Intervention Surrounding Suicide’ and was founded to offer a safe environment where people in, or approaching, suicidal crisis can have a safe place to go and get professional support.
Nominated by Louise Struthers from Fortec member M and H Logistics, who grew up with Chris, the charity continues to support the community every day in the Wishaw area.
For more information about Chris’s House and to donate, please visit: https://chrisshouse.org/.
15: Focus Charity
Focus Charity, in Leicester City Centre, has been working to inspire young people from 13-25 for over 30 years, helping them make positive changes in their lives and in their communities.
Focus helps young people feel safe loved and appreciated and through its projects, helps them to gain important employability and life skills.
Nominated by Sian Morley of Pall-Ex Group, the charity works with high numbers of those living in poverty and young people who are facing serious issues around mental health and child protection.
To find out more and to donate to Focus Charity, please visit: https://www.focus-charity.co.uk/.
16: Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is well known for the work they do in supporting people with sight loss. Its ambition is to create a future where everyone with sight loss has the confidence and support they need to live life to the fullest.
From the canine services and the recognisable guide dogs themselves, to ever growing face-to-face and digital services, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association continues to deliver pioneering support for people with sight loss across the UK.
Lynsey Grant at Pall-Ex Group’s head office in Coalville nominated the charity to receive the £1,000 donation.
For more information about Guide Dogs and to donate, please visit: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/donate-now/.
17: Alice Charity
Based Newcastle-under-Lyme, Alice Charity supports disadvantaged and vulnerable families in and around the Newcastle and Stoke-on-Trent area through a variety of services.
Alice Charity helps to move families in crisis forward from a dark place to a brighter future.
Whether it’s cup of tea and a chat when life seems to be out of control or it’s food in the fridge, a danger-free home, debt advice, new parent support, a good night’s sleep or a great day at school. Alice Charity is on hand to improve the lives of those it supports, and in turn, improve the whole community.
Alice Charity was nominated by Jessica Mountford of Pall-Ex shareholder member Place 2 Place Logistics: A business which also supported the charity during last year’s Christmas appeal.
To find out more about Alice Charity, the work it does and to donate, please visit: https://alicecharity.com/.
18: Fresh Start New Beginnings
Fresh Start New Beginnings in Ipswich is a charity that works throughout Suffolk and Norfolk, and was set up to provide a therapeutic service for children and young people up to 18 years of age who have reported being sexually abused and to offer support for their families.
Fresh Start New Beginnings helps children and young people make sense of the confusion they feel and teaches them coping strategies. The charity highlights their strengths and potential, helping children and young people move from victims to survivors.
The charity was nominated by Olly Magnus, of Pall-Ex shareholder member Magnus Group, also of Ipswich.
To find out more about Fresh Start New Beginnings or to donate, please visit: https://www.fsnb.org.uk/get-involved/donate/.
19: Sight Advice South Lakes
Sight Advice South Lakes is a charity based in Kendal, that supports people with visual impairment in the South Lakes and Cumbria and helps to improve their quality of life.
The charity was founded in 1956 and continues to work towards its aims of enabling visually impaired people to live independently and promoting awareness of sight issues, campaigning with, and on behalf of, visually impaired people.
The charity was nominated by Stuart Duncan of Pall-Ex shareholder member, J T Leyland, and relies on donations, grants and legacies to maintain its services.
For more information about the charity and to donate, please visit: http://sightadvice.org.uk/.
20: Keswick Mountain Rescue
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team operates from its base on the shores of Derwentwater and relies on its team of 50 volunteers to ensure it can be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The team is primarily responsible for the area which includes England’s three highest mountains – Skiddaw, Helvellyn and Scafell Pike, and at the time of writing, has completed 115 rescues in 2021.
The charity relies on donations to support the work it carries out, and was nominated by Bryan Jones of Pall-Ex member Beaches Logistics NW Ltd.
To learn more about Keswick Mountain Rescue Team and to donate, please visit: https://keswickmrt.org.uk/donate/.
21: St Richard's Hospice
St Richard’s Hospice, Worcester, cares for adults with serious progressive illnesses, improving their quality of life from diagnosis, during treatment and to their last days, whilst also supporting their families. An independent charity, the majority of its funding comes from charitable donations, fundraising, legacies and grants.
Established in 1984, it employs 250 full and part-time staff who work at the hospice, providing quality, compassionate care for the people and families who need it.
Nominated by Martin Pinches, of Pall-Ex founder and shareholder member M. Pinches & Sons who won the Pall-Ex Regional Award for Wales and the South West at the Pall-Ex 25th Anniversary Awards, the charity celebrated its annual Snowdrop Fundraising Ball after a one year hiatus brought about by Covid-19 in late November.
To find out more or to donate to St Richard’s Hospice, please visit: https://www.strichards.org.uk/donate/.
“All of us at M. Pinches & Sons are proud to support the great work St Richard’s Hospice provides. We provide a trailer every year for the fundraising festival and are glad to be able to continue our support. Thank you to Pall-Ex for selecting St Richard’s as one of the 25 charities.”
22: Scleroderma & Raynauds UK
Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK (SRUK) is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with Scleroderma & Raynaud's phenomenon.
The charity’s mission is to improve the lives of everyone affected by Scleroderma and Raynaud's. They do this by investing in research, improving awareness and understanding of the conditions and providing information and support to all those affected.
Nominated by Samantha Parsons from Pall-Ex shareholder member Advanced Delivery Services, the charity is the only one of its kind, working to support those affected by the disease in the UK.
To find out more about SRUK, please visit: https://www.sruk.co.uk/donate/.
23: Ryedale Special Families
Based in Old Malton, North Yorkshire, Ryedale Special Families supports families throughout Ryedale and North Yorkshire with children and young adults with disabilities, additional needs and illness.
For over 25 years, the charity has supported families, and today helps over 245 families throughout the area.
Nominated by Fortec shareholder member, Charles Morgan from winner of the Fortec New Member of the Year Award Charles Morgan Transport, the charity relies on donations to carry out its work.
To learn more or to donate to Ryedale Special Families, please visit: https://www.ryedalespecialfamilies.org.uk/.
24: Olivia's Journey
Olivia is a six-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a rare type of cancerous brain tumour, Ependymoma, in October 2014.
She continues to live life to the full as she battles this terrible disease, and the Olivia’s Journey Facebook page provides updates for friends, family and supporters so they can keep up-to-date with her battle against this disease.
Nominated by Pall-Ex Group employee, Ellie Harman, Olivia is local to Coalville and you can follow her progress by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/Oliviafern04/.
25: Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice
Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice has three locations across the UK, with hospices in Coventry, Middlesbrough, and Liverpool.
Zoë’s Place provides palliative, respite and end of life care to babies and infants aged from birth to five years who are living with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and has been the charity partner of Fortec for a number of years.
With a focus on compassionate care at the heart of the charity’s beliefs, Zoë’s Place is a free service for any family who needs to access it.
Nominated by Andrew Spencer from Pall-Ex Group’s IT team, he has been a long term supporter of the charity, having walked Hadrian’s Wall to raise funds for it in 2012.
To find out more about Zoë’s Place and to donate, please visit: https://donate.zoes-place.org.uk/.
As Pall-Ex Group’s 25th Anniversary year comes to a close, the business felt it was important to support charitable causes across the UK, helping causes close to the hearts of both the staff and members of the Pall-Ex and Fortec networks.
On the countdown towards Christmas, the Group Board and everyone at Pall-Ex Group hope that the donations made will help people across the UK enjoy the festive season a little more this year.
Our 25 days of charity are in full swing. Merry Christmas everyone!