We were so delighted to receive the very kind donation from the Trustees of the James Beattie Charitable Trust.

Spina bifida and hydrocephalus (SBH) are complex conditions that affect mobility, learning and health. The charity Shine provides free membership and specialist support, pre-birth and beyond, for anyone living with SBH, their families and professional care network. We support 35 members in Wolverhampton, and are always welcoming new members, including families with newborns.

Families can feel overwhelmed by a diagnosis, and we provide skilled guidance and reassurance at home, hospital and clinic, arrange peer support groups and family events, and help parents to access disability benefits and equipment for their child.

Learning and development can be very challenging for a child with complex disabilities, compounded by missing so much at school through health complications. We provide resources and training for health professionals, and reach out to local schools, so that children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus feel included and have a strong start that sets them up in life.

Debra Chand, Trusts Development Officer,

01733 555988

www.shinecharity.org.uk

‘React is a small charity that improves the quality of life of terminally ill children cared for by financially disadvantaged families. The charity will provide any item deemed a ‘basic, essential need’, including specialist, mobility, educational and developmental equipment, as we believe every child has the right to live a life of comfort and dignity, no matter how short that life may be.

Through the generosity of The James Beattie Charitable Trust, terminally ill children living in Wolverhampton will receive urgently needed aid and equipment. We would like to thank the Trust for its compassion and support which has led to relief for so many.’ 

Vicky Andreas
Director
React
St Luke’s House, 270 Sandycombe Road
Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3NP
Tel: +44 (0)20 8940 2575
Email: vicky@reactcharity.org
Website: www.reactcharity.org
‘Giving depth to short lives’
Charity Registration Number: 802440/SC038067

The Elders and members of the congregation, particularly the gentlemen, at St. Andrews Church, Sedgley are extremely grateful to the James Beattie Charitable Trust for their generous donation. The Male Toilets were in need of total refurbishment and the grant has allowed the church to instruct the contractor to start immediately. Community use of the buildings are important to us and in addition to our own use, persons using the rooms for pleasure, education or more sombre occasions such as funerals will now have toilet facilities to an acceptable standard.

Many thanks,

Yours Sincerely,

Robert E. Chesworth

St. Andrews Church, Sedgley

The British Acoustic Neuroma Association (BANA) is a small national charity that supports people and their support networks who have had a diagnosis of an Acoustic Neuroma, a rare brain tumour that grows on the balance nerve and causes complete single sided deafness, along with other symptoms such as tinnitus, vertigo, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety and depression, less often facial palsy and occasionally cognitive impairment. We mainly support people by setting up support groups around the country; where often this is the first place those diagnosed get to meet other people with an Acoustic Neuroma.  The kind grant from the James Beattie Charitable Trust will ensure that we are able to continue to support people and their support networks in the Wolverhampton area who have an Acoustic Neuroma.

Thank you

Julie Dixon

CEO

British Acoustic Neuroma Association

Tapton Park Innovation Centre

Brimington Road

Chesterfield

S41 0TZ

Tel: 01246 550011

Office email: admin@bana-uk.com

Website: www.bana-uk.com

The generous funding from The James Beattie Charitable Trust enables us to provide young people with experiences that will last so many of them a lifetime.

The young people experience the full range of emotions that makes the Pioneer Centre such a great place for learning and challenge to occur. Nothing beats the resounding thunderous chorus of ‘Thank You’s’ echoing in the dining hall, the terrifying and triumphant screams throughout the activities or the watery eyes of sadness of the many unwilling to depart as they walk past reception. One thing is sure, the preparation for those young people’s future has taken a step forward.

Thank you to the Trustees for allowing us to provide these life-changing oopportunities.

John Whittaker

Chief Executive

Pioneer Centre, Shropshire

LUPUS UK is the only national registered charity that supports people with lupus, their friends and family. The purpose of the charity is to relieve a person suffering from lupus and to advance the education of the public and the medical profession in all aspects of the disease. The charity supports resear ch projects in the hope of one day finding a cure and funds Lupus Specialist Nurses across the UK. The charity has a strong welfare fund which provides people in desperate need of support with much-needed equipment to enhance their quality of life. The vision of the charity is ‘a world where people with lupus can live full and active lives’.

With the help of The James Beattie Charitable Trust, LUPUS UK can provide support to one, two or possibly three lupus patients with debilitating symptoms, depending upon their circumstances. Providing patients with much-needed equipment allows for a more comfortable and independent lifestyle.

Once again, thank you for supporting the work of LUPUS UK.

Chanpreet Walia

Social Media & Appeals Officer

LUPUS UK
St. James House

Eastern Road

Romford

Essex   RM1 3NH

Tel: 01708731251

www.lupusuk.org.uk

Wildside Activity Centre

Wildside Activity Centre is a small charity offering outdoor and nature related activities for health, fun and learning. Our unique canalside oasis in the heart of Wolverhampton is a welcoming place for everyone. In many different ways, we get people outdoors and learning about nature. All ages, all abilities – we reconnect people with nature – from toddlers to the elderly.

The James Beattie Trust has given us great encouragement and flexible help. Their award this year is supporting our work with long-term unemployed people which takes volunteers to do outdoor conservation work such as canal bank renovation, building a pond for a school or creating a sensory garden for a residential home.

Many of these volunteers have faced multiple challenges such as substance misuse or learning difficulties and for most of them, unemployment has shattered their confidence. We work with them to re-build confidence, social skills, work readiness and practical vocational skills and are seeing an increase in the numbers now successfully entering work.

Thank you so much.

At Circus Starr, we’re on a mission to be the UK’s most inclusive circus. Established for the benefit of local communities, Circus Starr is an innovative, not-for-profit social enterprise who is passionate about the promotion and accessibility of live performance to an audience frequently excluded from the arts and cultural opportunities. Our relaxed and inclusive performances are designed to embrace the whole family so that they can experience and be inspired by an art form that has traditionally broken down boundaries and brought together communities in unexpected ways.

Because of the support of The James Beattie Trust we are able to be able to bring a celebration of circus to those who struggle socially and give them the chance to overcome fears, to explore live performance and try new adventures.

“My daughter’s additional needs puts strain on us all. Her siblings struggle with the limitations her needs put on us. Having fun as a family recharges us and gives us lighter moments and happy memories.

Photographs by Paul Empsom

Judith Halle

Grants and Trusts Manager
For and on behalf of Circus Starr

T:  01260 288690

E:  judith.halle@circus-starr.org.uk

W: www.circus-starr.org.uk

Our multi-disciplinary team approach to the 18 to 25s provides professional, empowering support to two houses in the Black Country.  Understanding the impact of those coming from the care system directly, whilst others are simply rejected by family and friends or are ex-offenders.

Empowerment – Paid professional Empowerment Officers help keep residents focused on maintaining their residency, accessing public funds and obtaining employment, where this applies.

Relationships – Trained volunteer ‘friends with a purpose’ journey through life with the residents on a weekly basis.

Family – Partner churches available and open to welcome those on the fringes of society, bringing a sense of family by adopting those who society has socially excluded.

The funds provided by The James Beattie Trust will benefit Hope into Action:Black Country enormously, as we firstly don’t pass on the charity’s costs of support to the tenants, so that we can charge rents low enough to encourage the transition from benefits to paid employment.