Charities Affiliated to the Wheelwrights

Every other year the Felloes of the Wheelwrights hold a Ball and raise signifcant funds for two charities and our Trust. You will recall from last year that Thrive and Activenture benefited from the 2007 Ball. The next Ball is planned for the Autumn of 2009.

Whilst this last year has not been a year for major fund raising as the result of a significant bequest and through the generosity of many Liverymen, funds have flowed in enabling us to assist worthy causes as follows:

3H Fund £2500. This charity arranges holidays for disabled children and young adults, accompanied by volunteer carers, allowing them to enjoy an independent holiday and to enable their regular carers to have a period of respite. The holiday activities include climbing, abseiling, archery, canoeing, sailing etc. Our donation allowed 10 children to have a holiday in Kepplewray in the Lake District. We have also agreed to give similar support this year towards a holiday in Barnstable at the Calvert Trust Activity Centre.

Aspire £2500. This is a wheelchair basketball club for young adults based at Stanmore and a charity we have supported for some years assisting with their expenses and the maintenance of the court.

Alford House £1000. This is a Youth Club in Lambeth which has had to undergo a major refurbishment of their building and our donation was for access/mobility facilities for those members who are disabled.

Dogs for the Disabled £2352. This was to finance 12 special packs of equipment for dogs to be partnered to and work with autistic children. This charity has opened a special centre in Weston-Super-Mare to launch this innovative treatment, pioneered successfully in America, giving much needed support and improvement to the quality of life for children with autism.

Royal Artillery Benevolent Fund £2500. This is now a regular annual donation to assist mobility for those severely injured in action. Medical issues for our troops returning from war zones are much in the press at the moment. The Company has a close relationship with the Royal Artillery and I know our support is much appreciated.


During the year we have also made are usual annual donations to The Lord Mayor's Charity (£2000), The Sheriff's and Recorder's Fund (£750), The Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy (£500), The City of London Poppy Appeal (£100), the United Guilds Service (£125) and Riding for the Disabled (£125).

Photographs of some of events over recent years are shown below:

The presentation of specially designed wheelchairs to the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford took place on Thursday 2 September 2004 when a party of Wheelwrights led by the Master with their wives were shown round the hospital by Mr. Michael Benson MBBS, FRCS. The nursing staff were particularly appreciative of the chairs which have adjustable features to help very ill patients.

In January 2005, The Master Tim Hopcroft presented a cheque for £2,500 as a donation to the basketball team to Anne Wild, member of the GB Women's Team and four times GB paralympian at the headquarters of ASPIRE. The activities of ASPIRE reach out nationwide. Their work includes purchasing specialist equipment for individuals who are paralysed; creating personal development training courses, short term housing; research into technology to benefit people with disabilities and promoting integration between disabled and non-disabled people through sport.

In April 2006, The Master Michael Kirk presented a cheque for £10,000 to the Treloar Trust to go towards purchasing new equipment as part of the opening of their new gym which is also shown below. The Treloar Trust is a charity that provides education, therapy, care and independence training for young people with disabilities.

In February 2007, the Master presented a cheque to HRH Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM, as patron of the charity London Youth. These funds formed part of the proceeds of the 2007 Felloes Ball and were donated to help support the activities of Activenture, part of London Youth. Activenture provides residential adventure weeks for young people with disabilities and special needs giving them the ability to undertake a large number of outdoor activities.