Archive News

April 2010 Louise from Surrey is a 30 year old lady who contacted The ACT Foundation to enquire is we could help her with the cost of a portable oxygen concentrator. She had suffered childhood cancer which had affected her lungs and kidneys and diagnosed with plumonary fibrosis in 2006. She received a single lung transplant in 2008 but has had many post operative complications since then. Louise now needs oxygen throughout the day and night and a lightweight portable oxygen concentrator will enable this lady to travel independently without the worry of being without oxygen should she needs it quickly.

April 2010 Bag Books is a charity based in London which works with children and adults that have severe and profound learning difficullties. They use multi sensory "books" which cover a wide range of age-related stories. The stories are told from seperate page-cards, each with a seperate sensory element (an interesting shape, texture, sound or movement) relating to the story. Each book is hand made and takes 8 hours to produce and is quite costly. Bag Books approached us to see if we could help them with funding 48 copies of a new story called The Match. The ACT Foundation were pleased to pledge £750 towards their costs.

April 2010 We were approached by the family of Rene, an 8 year old girl from London who has Cerebral Palsy which affects one side of her body more than the other. She is unable to kneel, stand or walk independently but can sit unaided. She has associated learning difficulties and has no awareness of danger. At the moment she is sleeping in a profiling bed which was provided by NHS, but this is proving to be a problem as Rene tends to throw herself about and has fallen out of bed on a number of occasions and has chipped her teeth on the wall. A cot which is padded internally and has a profiling platform with east access whould keep Rene safe and secure in her bed which will alleviate the risk of her hurting herself. This piece of equipment is very expensive but The ACT Foundation were happy to to help out with a pledge of £2,500 towards the cost.

March 2010 A man who is registered blind and living alone with his guide dog applied to us for assistance to fund a speech enabled Trekker GPS system which he described as being "rather like a sat-nav used for directing sight impaired people from A to B". This equipment will enable him to travel and access his local community independently thus eliminating any feelings of isolation. ACT were pleased to pledge a donation of £750.

March 2010 ACT received an application from Friends of Wren Spinney, a secondary school and registered charity for pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties in Northamptonshire. The school have embarked on an exciting project to provide real-life opportunities in terms of work experience to their pupils by opening a shop in the town centre selling locally produced fruit and vegetables, garden items and old fashioned confectionery. Pupils are fully involved in all aspects of the project including serving customers in the shop. The building the shop is in requires disabled access toilets and ACT were delighted to be able to pledge a donation of £1,500 towards the necessary building works.

March 2010 A pledge of £2,000 was awarded to help a family on their way to raising the funds they require to install a through floor lift in their home. The boy requiring the lift is 9 years old and has Cerebral Palsy affecting his whole body which means he is unable to sit or stand and he is reliant on others for all aspects of his personal care. The installation of such a lift will mean he is able to sleep upstairs with his parents and that they will be able to get him up there without risking personal injury by carrying him.

March 2010 ACT were pleased to be able to help part fund a specialist chair for a 42 year old man with Huntington's Disease with a donation of £1,000. This gentleman's condition means that he is unable to walk unaided or get up and down and in and out of a chair without assistance from his mother, his main carer. The provision of such a chair will provide him with more comfort and hopefully help his mother with his transfers.

February 2010 Walthew House is a charity based in Stockport which plans to develop a specialist youth club for children aged 5-14 who are deaf, visually impaired, or both. They are seeking funding for equipment to be able to get the club up and running. The youth club will cater for approximately 30 young people per session where they will benefit from interaction with each other, and have the opportunity to learn new skills which they may not otherwise have access to. The ACT Foundation were very happy to pledge a grant of £1,000 towards this worthy cause.

February 2010 We were approached by the parents of a 12 year old boy from Surrey who suffers from epilepsy and also has a disability called Pachygyria, which is a malformation of the brain. His parents applied to us for financial assistance to purchase an epilepsy monitor as his bedroom was specially adapted for him but was downstairs in the family home. The monitor would alert them to any emergency and the provision of such a machine would give his parents piece of mind. The ACT Foundation were able to help with a grant of £585 towards this invaluable piece of equipment.

February 2010 Bridewell Organic Gardens is a registered charity based in Oxfordshire which provides land-based therapy for people suffering from a range of health problems with the main focus being on mental health. The charity helps people re-build their lives and return to work through participating in a variety of therapeutic activities including horticulture, blacksmithing, bee keeping and willow weaving. The garden is in a rural location and a lot of the clients need transport to be able to attend. The charity approached us as their minibus is now very old and becoming increasingly prone to mechanical breakdown and desperately needs replacing. The ACT Foundation were please to be help their fundraising along with a pledge of £2,000.

January 2010 We were approached by the father of a 5 year old girl who suffers room a rare neuromuscular condition called Nemaline Rod Myopathy. This means that she has profound muscular weakness leading to severe chest infections and which renders her immobile. She has to use a non-invasive ventilator overnight and also needs other equipment such as, nebuliser and suction machine as well as a powered wheelchair and profiling bed. Her parents are very worried that Tariq will suffer should they have a power cut (which happens quite often where they live) as none of her equipment will work without electricity. The ACT Foundation were very pleased to be able to help with the purchase of a backup generator.

January 2010 Audrey is a 55 year old lady who has had cancer twice and also suffered a stroke as a result of a heart operation.She has been left with fine motor skill problems in her left hand and needs to wear a specially fitted supportive glove which positions her hand and gives sensory feedback. Unfortunately this equipment is not available through the NHS and has to be funded privately and replaced every 12 months or so. We were very happy to be able to award a grant of £135 to pay for the glove.

January 2010 Jonathan is a young man from Hampshire who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and as a result is wheelchair dependent and very prone to chest infections due to muscle wastage. He has reduced ability to remove chest secretions by coughing and has been advised that a Cough Assist Machine will help alleviate further chest infections which is the greatest cause of death in the late stages of his condition. We were able to help Jonathon with his fundraising by pledging £1,750 towards the cost of this much needed piece of equipment.

December 2009 Oak View is a special school based in Essex for children aged 3-19 who have severe or profound learning difficulties, they may also have learning needs within the Autistic spectrum. They currently have 63 students and hydrotherapy benefits at least 50% of them. The students currently have to be transported to a pool in Epping which takes up to 3 hours out of their day (2 of which is travelling time). We were approached by The Friends of Oak View School to enquire if we would be able to help with a project to open a hydrotherapy pool on the school site. When not being used by the school, the pool would also be used by elderly people in the area as well as providing an income by being offered to young families through a baby swimming club. Fundraising is well underway and The ACT Foundation were able to help this along with a Pledge of £5,000.

December 2009 Molly is a 4 year old girl from Yorkshire who has severe cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic. The family have been awarded a Disability Facilities Grant of £30,000 to create a bedroom and bathroom for Molly but the family have had to move out of the house whilst the work was completed. The grant they received did not cover costs for replacing carpets or for decorating and the family were unable to move back in until this work was completed. The ACT Foundation were happy to help with a grant of £2,000 to help with these costs.

December 2009 Wherever the Need is a charity that is UK based and whose primary focus is helping with sanitation, water, livelihood and empowerment to disadvantaged and impoverished people . We were approached by them to see if we could help undertake a hygiene programme developing sanitation and fresh water facilities in Madalapattu Panchayat, near Pondicherry in India. Housing in this community is of poor quality and basic hygiene facilities do not exist. This leads to contamination of water supplies, disease and lack of self respect and dignity. The project would provide clean drinking water and eco-toilets as well as helping to establish a seamstress business making clothes and leather bags for sale. This project will take 18 months to complete and will benefits 1,250 people by providing sanitation and water facilities - something that we in the UK take for granted. The ACT Foundation were very pleased to pledge £30,000 towards this deserving project.

November 2009 Scott is a 25 year old who was born with Cerebral Palsy, is non-verbal and has learning difficulties. Despite his disabilities, he loves going out with his family to new places and seeing new things. Unfortunately if he has to travel in the family car for any length of time, he tends to slip over in the seat as he is unable to support himself for very long. His mother then has to stop the vehicle to re-position him before continuing the journey. We were asked if we would be able to help purchase a Burnett Support System for Scott which will alleviate the problem and improve his posture, support and safety. We were very happy to oblige with a grant of £533.

November 2009 We were approached by the mother and carer of a 42 year old lady who has a degenerative neurological disorder which has rendered her totally immobile and needing 24 hour care. She was assessed as needing a specialist supportive chair with head, trunk and leg supports that would meet all her postural and static seating needs. Unfortunately these chairs are not available on NHS so we were very glad to be able to help out with a grant of £1900 towards the chair.

November 2009 The Scottish Spina Bifida Association is a charity based in Glasgow that was founded in 1965 to support those with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. The association provides respite for families at Rebecca Cottage, a holiday home in a peaceful location that can accommodate 8 people. The property is in urgent need of renovation and updating to provide much needed additional specialist equipment. The ACT Foundation were very please to be able to offer a pledge of £2497 to purchase a specialist nursing care bed for the accommodation.

November 2009 The Act Foundation were approached by Thomas, a 59 year old gentleman from Scotland who suffers from COPD and angina and uses a mobility scooter to get out and about. The man explained that , due to the area that he lives, it would be unwise to leave the scooter outdoors overnight and that he needs the help of 2 other people to get the scooter out of his house. A special scooter shed with a level access and doors that open outwards would allow Thomas to keep his scooter safe and dry. He would be able to use it whenever he wanted to and without having to rely on anyone else for help. The Act Foundation were very happy to grant a donation of £615 to purchase the shed.

October 2009 We received an application for a grant from the sister of a 47 year old man named Daryl who was born with Athetoid Quadriplegia (an inability to control all 4 limbs) and who has been in residential care home since he was 5 years old. His mobility and speech are severely affected but he has learned to use an electric wheelchair by controlling it with his chin. His sister explained that Daryl was a very bright, intelligent man who was eager to enroll is several courses at his local college but would need specialist computer equipment to be able to acheive this. The ACT Foundation were able to pledge a grant of £1,000 to help purchase specialist software with a SmartNav head pointer to help Daryl fulfil his wished.

October 2009 A lady from the North East applied to ACT for help with an adaptation to a car that she was hoping to drive once she had passed her driving test. The lady was born with a congenital abnormality which meant that she has no left forearm. The vehicle would need an indicator extension, an easy release handbrake and steering ball in order for her to be able to drive. This lady is a qualified lecturer and is hoping to gain employment once she has her transport. ACT were pleased to grant £218 towards these vehicle adaptations.

October 2009 We were approached by the mother of Daniel, a little boy who was diagnosed with selective mutism but who was doing well at school. Daniel and his sister were sharing a bedroom but were of the age where they each needed their own space. The family live in an area where the council have very few 3 bedroom houses and having seperate rooms would mean that they would have to move out of the area and away from their support network, family and school. The family feel that this would be too much of an upheaval for Daniel and asked The ACT Foundation if we could help with a grant to buy a folding room divider from Spazio, so that each child could have their own space, but remain living in the same property. We were happy to oblige with a grant of £817 towards this cost.

September 2009 An elderly gentleman applied to ACT for help to fund replacement batteries for his mobility scooter. This man is unable to walk unaided and his scooter means he can remain active and continue to live independently. ACT were very pleased to grant a £150 donation.

September 2009 ACT were pleased to pledge a donation of £500 towards a Turnout car seat for a little boy with Cri-du-Chat Syndrome and many other health complications.This specialist car seat has a swivel base which will enable him to be transferred in and out of the family car in safety.

September 2009 A pledge of £10,000 was awarded to Wirrall Autistic Society, a North West of England based charity, for their Home from Home Respite Unit Appeal. The charity are building a 6 bedded, autism specific, respite unit to help families with an autistic member to have access to high quality respite care. The scheme is scheduled to complete in May 2010 with opening to its first clients from 1 July 2010.

August 2009 SeeAbility is a charity which enables blind and partially sighted people with additional disabilities to achieve more from life by helping to develop and maintain their life skills, retain independence, have access to good quality housing and support and to raise awareness about being included in their local community. Their application to us was for help to fund the construction of a building which will provide six self-contained, specially adapted, en-suite bedrooms each with access to a shared sensory garden. The six new residents are making the transition from children's support services to adult services and they all have a visual impairment and additional complex needs requiring high levels of specialist support. The new building will offer them a degree of independence but in a stimulating and caring environment. ACT were delighted to contribute £10,000.00.

August 2009 A 45 year old lady with MS who lives alone applied to us to assist with help towards funding of an extension. This lady has limited mobility and was having to sleep downstairs as she was unable to access her bedroom. She was assessed and awarded a Disabled Facilities Grant for an extension to her home which would provide her with a bedroom and toilet/showering facilities on the ground floor. The ACT Foundation were delighted to be able to donate the funds required to make up the shortfall between the grant awarded and the actual building costs.

August 2009 Ferring Country Centre provides work and training experience for adults with learning difficulties. Clients are able to develop work and social skills by assisting in the operation of a Riding Therapy School and through the Horticultural Unit where plants and produce are grown and sold to the local community. Client's gain meaningful work experience by going out into the community for gardening projects which include maintaining the local church and scouts grounds. Their application to us was for replacement mowers and ACT were pleased to be able to contribute to these by way of a £500 donation.

July 2009 ACT were delighted to pledge the £4,200 shortfall in funding required to create a play space at Eaves Housing for Women, a registered charity providing refuge for women and children who have suffered domestic violence. The play area is not for general play but instead provides space for professionals to work with individual and small groups of children who have suffered mentally and physically from abuse at home.

July 2009 A donation of £395 was granted to the family of a baby with a rare chomosomal abnormality which means she has various complex disabilities. She is fed through a nose tube and has a tracheostomy for her airway. A suction pump is required to keep her clear throughout the night which the family had been borrowing on trial. ACT were very pleased to be able to provide the necessary funds for the family to have a portable suction machine. This machine has been found to be a lot less noisy than other versions which in turn benefits the whole family by allowing them to sleep better.

July 2009 An application for a vibrating floor was received from the grandmother of a little boy with Norrie's Disease. This little boy is totally blind and has a hearing impairment. Having this dual sensory loss profoundly affects his understanding of the world around him and the provision of the vibrating floor will provide valuable tactile stimulation. ACT were very pleased to fund the purchase with a donation of £895.

June 2009 Southview School is based in Essex and educates and cares for 50 children, all of whom have severe physical, neurological and learning difficulties. The school has been fundraising for a small hydrotherapy pool which will help even the most disabled children develop as much physical, communication and independence skills as possible. The ACT Foundation were approached to see if we could help with the cost of providing some sensory equipment for the pool such as lights, sounds, switch operated toys and swim jets. We were able to help the project along with a pledge of £5,000 towards these costs.

June 2009 The Seashell Trust, based in Cheshire is a charity that provides education and residential care for people with complex difficulties from across the UK. We were approached by one of their fundraisers to see if we could help a young lady who lives with 4 co-tenants at one of their domiciliary care homes. This young lady has Cerebral Palsy and has recently developed secondary features which severely limits her mobility and communication. She requires the help of 2 carers for toilet transfers and showering. A reclining shower chair will enable this young lady to be bathed in a safe and dignified manner without the risk of injury to any party. The ACT Foundation were pleased to help with a grant of £1,634 to purchase this vital equipment.

June 2009 The Sick Children's Trust is a London based charity that runs 7 "Homes from Home" at key paediatric centres across the UK. They provide accomodation to the families of sick children to stay for the duration of the child's hospital treatment. Children's services currently at St James' in Leeds is being transferred to Leeds General Hospital which is too far away from their current "home". The charity has been awarded compensation from NHS to enable them to build a new home nearer to Leeds General and building is due to commence in July 2009. There was a shortfall in funds needed and The ACT Foundation were happy to pledge £4,100 which will fund a disabled access shower room.

May 2009 A 31 year old mum with a young daughter was delighted to receive £250 to fund the purchase of a hand held magnifier. This lady has a visual impairment brought on by epilepsy and is unable to see to read. With the help of the magnifier she will be able to deal with her day to day correspondence and read to her daughter.

May 2009 ACT were pleased to fund the purchase of special needs equipment for The Family Haven based in Gloucester. The Family Haven, a registered charity established in 1988, provides a day centre where vulnerable families with pre school children, many with learning difficulties, can receive a pre-school education in the registered nursery whilst parents are given life skills via parenting classes and healthy eating workshops.

May 2009 A lady with MS applied to us to assist with funding towards an electric tilt table when unfortunately the services of her MS Group where she had been able to use a tilt table were withdrawn. This lady has found the use of a tilt table to stand for 30-40 minutes per day has many benefits to her health and general well being including improving her breathing. ACT were pleased to be able to make up the shortfall she required by granting a donation of £717.

April 2009 ACT were delighted to be able to fund the purchase of wall padding around the bed of a 15 year old boy who, having contracted meningitis aged 4, suffers from severe epilepsy which results in him banging his head on the wall during a seizure. Hopefully the provision of this wall padding will prevent him from sustaining head injuries.

April 2009 A donation of £340 was awarded to a young man with Cerebral Palsy for a specialist keyboard with keyguard. This young man has impaired speech and involuntary and uncontrollable movements and relies on his computer to communicate via e-mail. The specialist keyboard will enable him to use his home computer to much greater benefit and to progress his college studies much more efficiently and independently.

April 2009 The Occupational Therapist of a lady with Multiple Sclerosis applied to us for help with the funding of a specialist medical bed from Theraposture. This lady was at the stage where she could no longer transfer in and out of a regular bed and had been sleeping on her sofa. ACT were pleased to contribute £500 in order for her to have the bed which will obviously provide much needed support and increased safety when transfering.

March 2009 ACT were delighted to fund the purchase of a special needs buggy for a 6 year old boy with autism. As he has no sense of danger and is prone to running off this buggy will allow his mother to take him out in safety without the risk of him coming to harm.

March 2009 The carer of a 19 year old lady with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia applied to us for help to purchase a portable hoist. With the help of our donation of £1500 she was able to acquire the hoist and they are no longer limited as to the places they can visit and stay at. This lady's carer is now planning to take her on holiday and has peace of mind that she will be able to make transfers in a safe and comfortable manner.

March 2009 ACT were pleased to make a donation of £2,500 to Happy Days Children's Charity, a charity providing respite breaks for families with children who have special needs as well as day trips, outings and residential trips. Happy Days hope to provide 300 children with a respite break to various locations from September 2009 - March 2010 and have many worthy children on their waiting list.

February 2009 The parents of a 4 year old boy from Lancashire wrote to us to enquire if we could help them purchase a specialist sleep system for their son who has a condition called Lissencephaly (smooth brain). This condition which means that he has profound difficulties and complex needs and weakness in the muscles in his trunk, arms and legs. This little boy needs to be positioned in a symmetrical position whilst asleep to aid his breathing and also help him maintain good posture. The ACT Foundation were happy to oblige with a grant of £1,181 to purchase the specialist sleep system.

February 2009 UCanDoIT is a charity based on London which gives training and equipment to disabled and housebound people. They acquire 2nd hand computers and printers and refurbish them. Training is given to their clients and they are then equipped with their own internet ready computer and printer which can transform the lives of these people by giving them access to friends, information and other on-line services. The ACT Foundation were very pleased to be able help this project with a grant of £2,500.

February 2009 We received an application for a grant from the mother of a young lady from Edinburgh who has profound physical and learning difficulties and who relies on others for all her care. The mother was devastated when she accidentally broke the illuminated bubble lamp which she switched on in the evening to provide her daughter with stimulation and entertainment. Mum is a single parent who could not afford to replace the lamp. We we were pleased to be able to help by providing a grant of £485 towards the cost.

February 2009 The Bren Project is a charity based in Chester whose mission is to provide support and inspire disabled or those at a disadvantage to experience and enter the world of work. They help find work placements for their clients by providing a Job Coach and work closely with both the individual and employer to ensure that the placements are appropriate, safe and supportive. The ACT Foundation were very happy to grant a donation of £1,500 towards the purchase of office equipment.

January 2009 The mother of a 43 year old man from Yorkshire asked for our help to purchase a specialist tricycle for her son who has learning difficulties. The tricycle will help this man get some exercise which in turn will improve his overall mobility and hopefully avoid him having to use a wheelchair in the future, which is something his mother is keen to avoid. We were happy to award a grant of £500 towards the cost of the tricycle.

January 2009 Over the Wall is a charity based in Hampshire which provides residential camps for children who are affected by serious and life limiting illness. These camps offer a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities and are held throughout the UK. A camp in the Spring will be run specifically for the siblings of these children who often miss out of attention from their parents when they focus their attention on the child who is sick. We were more than happy to grant an award of £5,000 towards this week of respite for these deserving children.

January 2009 West Berkshire Mencap is a charity based in West Berkshire dedicated to providing services, fundraising and campaigning on behalf of people with learning disabilities, their families, carers and professionals. They asked if we would be able to help with their project to build an extension to their current premises which would increase their capacity by 33% and incorporate a sensory room, changing room and soft play area. We were happy to oblige with a pledge of £2,500 towards these costs.

January 2009 We were approached by the carers of a man from Wiltshire who had been left a tetraplegic as a result of an accident. He is confined to a wheelchair and as a result suffers from pressure sores. A bespoke pressure relief cushion will enable this man to sit in safety and comfort and greatly enhance his quality of life. The ACT Foundation were pleased to be able to contribute £795 towards the cost.

December 2008 Beacon Employment is a registered charity which helps people with disabilities and young disadvantaged people to gain training and employment. They applied to us for help with funding of a new minibus and ramp which will be used to transport people with severe learning disabilities to work under supervision in the community carrying out tasks such as grass cutting and other gardening activities. ACT were delighted to pledge £2,000 towards the minibus.

December 2008 A pledge of £2,000 was awarded to a lady who has lived with kidney failure for the last 40 years. This will enable the family to carry out the garage conversion they require in order that they may install a sterile room where she will be able to receive home dialysis rather than travelling to hospital three times a week.

November 2008 A man with Huntington's Disease, a progressive neurological condition, was awarded a grant of £2,500 for a specialist seating system which will help him to maintain a comfortable sitting position and be kept safe.

November 2008 A 40 year old man with schizophrenia received a grant of £550 from ACT to enable him to enjoy a week's respite at Forresters respite centre which will give him a break from daily stressors which can potentially result in him being admitted to hospital. This time away also relieves his parents from caring for him so is therefore beneficial to everyone involved. ACT were delighted to have been able to help.

November 2008 We received an application for a specialist computer keyboard from the mother of a 13 year old boy with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and Global Developmental Delay. She describes her son as a sociable, outgoing young man who likes to communicate with others. ACT were pleased to be able to donate the funds required to purchase the keyboard which has chunky, square, colour coded keys, to provide this young man some independence.

October 2008 ACT were delighted to award a grant of £706 to a man born with Thalidomide for a mobility scooter. This chap is in constant pain following an accident and mobilises himself with two artifical legs. By helping him to obtain a scooter he will be able to enjoy the outdoors and take his young daughter to school.

October 2008 The ACT Foundation were happy to help a man born with Achondroplasia with adaptations to his existing car. Because of his condition, this man also suffers from arthritis in his joints, which has become more evident in his hips and making it more difficult for him to get in and out of his car. The grant of £1,450 was used to fit a specialist electric height adjustable drivers seat and modify his existing pedal extensions.

October 2008 We received an application for a grant from a lady who lives alone in Buckinghamshire and who was in remission from Breast Cancer. She was recovering from an operation connected to her osteoarthritis when she discovered an intruder at the rear of the property and this had made her very anxious and unsafe in her own home. Her local police recommended a security gate be fitted but this lady could not afford for this work to be done and so The ACT Foundation obliged with a grant of £546 so that this lady could be at home without the fear she had been feeling.

October 2008 Ocean Youth Trust South is a charity based in Hampshire which gives young people who are disadvantaged through no fault of their own, the opportunity to crew a specially adapted sailing vessel, The John Laing, all over the world. Regular clients include children's hospice's, special needs schools and homeless teenagers. These trips give the young people a boost to their self-esteem and a sense of pride. The vessel needs constant maintenance and new equipment to keep up with the necessary inspections it has to pass to be seaworthy and The ACT Foundation were happy to pledge a grant of £2,500 towards new ropes and lifejackets.

October 2008 The Act Foundation received an application from a caseworker for a man in his late 40's who is suffering from ME and confined to his bed because of this illness. He had been assessed to have adaptations to the property through a DFG but this did not include a security door opening system which would allow him to see who was at the front door, and if necessary open it without having to move. This piece of equipment will allow this man to feel secure in his home and also remove the need to exert his energy getting to the front door. The ACT Foundation were happy to pledge a grant of £395 to fund this.

September 2008 Shopmobility Stockport, a small charity established in 1997, approached ACT for funding to replace their fleet of elderly scooters. The free provision of the scooters enables many elderly and disabled people with mobility problems to access the shops and facilities of Stockport. ACT awarded a grant of £1,000 to help them on their way.

September 2008 ACT were pleased to award a grant of £1800 towards the purchase of a standing frame for a young man with Becker Muscular Dystrophy. This young man's condition means he is unable to stand or walk and is confined to a wheelchair. Using the standing frame on a daily basis will provide him with the exercise he desperately needs to keep his leg muscles stretched and to help prevent them from deteriorating.

September 2008 The family of a man hospitalised since January 2008 following a severe cerebral vascular accident approached ACT for a grant to purchase a stair lift so that he would be able to return home to be cared for. This formerly very independent man is now totally reliant on others and without a stair lift he would be unable to access the bedroom where he is cared for by his wife during the night. ACT awarded a grant of £1,800 so that he could leave hospital and return to his home.

September 2008 Thames Hospice, a local Windsor hospice, applied to ACT for funding to relocate and refurbish their main entrance and reception area. Thames Hospice has been providing care and support to patients and families living with cancer for the past 21 years and expect to help another 1,000 people in the coming year. ACT were very pleased to support the hospice with their plans by pledging a grant of £20,000 which will contribute to helping to improve their current facilities. Patient counselling rooms will be relocated in order to provide the best possible space with a reassuring and comforting atmosphere and an additional more private entrance for ambulances is part of the proposed refurbishment.

August 2008 The Assist Trust, an organisation that provides support and training opportunities for people with learning difficulties, approached ACT for financial assistance towards their "Moving On" project which they hope will give their members an opportunity to sample independent living in a secure and unintimidating way. Renovation work has recently completed at a property in Norwich to provide four flats as well as space for hosting training and recreational activities. ACT have awarded a grant of £2,500 to help equip the flats with the necessary white goods.

August 2008 A Jenx Bumble Bee chair was provided for a 10 month old child born prematurely with Cerebral Palsy and deafness. This specialist chair has been specifically designed to meet the needs of young children with disabilities and is fully adjustable to allow them much needed postural support as well as enabling them to interact with the family. ACT were delighted to have been able to help the family out with the purchase of this equipment.

August 2008 ACT received an application from a young man suffering from a severe skin condition. Despite being in constant pain and having his fingers fused together he is remarkably independent and resourceful and keen to live by himself. In fact he has recently acquired his own flat. ACT were happy to help out by purchasing various household items to assist this young man in his quest for independence.

July 2008 An application was received for a car seat harness from the parents of a 14 year old girl with microcephaly. This condition means she has global development delay and needs constant care and attention. ACT were pleased to donate the £88 required for this vital piece of equipment to enable the family to travel with her in safety.

July 2008 Children of Watamu is a charity based in a coastal village in Kenya who over the past 8 years have renovated and built 3 schools thus providing education to more than 700 children aged 2 upwards. The charity approached ACT to help with funding towards their latest project, to build a "Happy House", a place to take care of some of the many children orphaned by AIDS / Malaria, etc. or those who have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves. It is hoped the Happy House will provide these children with a safe home where they will grow as part of a family and care for each other as brothers and sisters. ACT were pleased to pledge £1,000 towards equipping the Happy House.

July 2008 Rochdale Special Needs Cycling Club provides bicycles and ancillary equipment to enable underprivileged children and children with disabilities to participate in rides into the countryside, etc. The charity found they were increasingly being asked to cater for children with more severe disabilities and to that end wished to purchase a specialist handcycle for paraplegics and children who are amputees. ACT awarded a grant of £1,250 for the handcycle.

June 2008 The Friends of Edith Borthwick School in Braintree, Essex supports 120 children with multiple disabilities, many of whom are unable to walk, talk or feed themselves. The school applied to ACT for help to install a specially designed sensory room with a range of highly stimulating equipment to be operated by the children using a variety of switches. This equipment will encourage the children to learn to develop their co-ordination and to be able to communicate their needs and the ultra violet facility will help those with visual impairment. ACT were very happy to pledge £2,500.

June 2008 The ACT Foundation awarded a grant of £1100 to help a young mother suffering from the latter stages of Multiple Sclerosis to purchase a portable gantry hoist. This has enabled her family to transfer her with greater ease and safety.

June 2008 We received an application to help a man suffering from HIV and more recently TB and MRSA with a week's respite at a specialist centre, Tyddyn Bach Trust, in North Wales. Owing to his ill health over the years this father has been unable to spend quality time with his two sons but with a grant of £100 towards his accommodation he will be able to spend time with them thus giving them the opportunity to bond.

June 2008 The parents of a 13 year old boy with Cerebral Palsy applied to us for assistance with accommodation costs to enable them to take their son to the National Athletics Championships where he has qualified to compete in the 100m and Shot Putt event. This is a fantastic achievement considering his disabilities and his school are very proud of him. ACT were delighted to award a grant of £165 to enable him to participate.

May 2008 The Rossendale Trust based in Cheshire provides 24 hour residential care for adults with learning difficulties. They support over 40 residents at their two main homes and a further 13 people at 3 smaller homes. They approached The ACT Foundation for help with funding a specialist bath that is height adjustable. The new bath will make bathing easier and safer for all concerned and also allow residents to maintain some dignity whilst having their personal care attended to. We were happy to oblige with a pledge of £5,000.00 towards the cost of the bath. May 2008 The ACT Foundation were able to help a young mother from Essex who has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy with a grant of £1694.00. She is a wheelchair user who has a two year old son who has damage to the inner part of his brain. This little boy has muscle weakness in his lower trunk and head. The grant was used towards the purchase of a specially adapted trailer which will be fitted to the rear of his mothers wheelchair and allow her to take him out on "walks" and participate in other activities independently. May 2008 We received an application for a grant from Action for Blind People for help with funding for a Supernova Dolphin Pen for a lady from Devon who was born with cataracts. She is now registered blind after her retinas became detached following domestic violence. The pen will allow her to use specialist software on any computer without the need to download the programmes on each computer. This lady hopes to attend a RNIB college to gain qualifications and this pen will be invaluable to her. The Act Foundation were happy to pledge a grant of £310.00 towards the pen. April 2008 Ro-Ro Sailing Project is an organisation which have yacht's designed to allow severely disabled people take an active part in sailing and not "just" be a passenger. The purpose built yacht's are fully wheelchair accessible and are the only ones in the world built for this purpose. They approached the ACT Foundation for funding towards life jackets and we were happy to grant a donation of £2,500.00.

April 2008 The parents of a 13 year boy from Suffolk applied to us for help towards adaptations to a car they had purchased. Their son has Muscular Dystrophy and is a full time wheelchair user. His conditions is now deteriorating and he is no longer able to transfer independently. The family were raising funds for a ramp to be fitted to the car which will allow them to wheel the wheelchair directly into the back of the car. The ACT Foundation were pleased to pledge a grant of £2,500.00 towards the cost of the adaptations.

April 2008 We were approached by Children 1st, a Scottish charity, for funding towards a Personal Development Course based on Mull, for 12 of it's teenage young carers. The course would give the opportunity for personal development as well as providing a valuable break for the carers away from their difficult home circumstances. The ACT Foundation were able to help with a grant of £2,000.000 towards the cost.

April 2008 In September 2007, The ACT Foundation pledged £20,000.00 to Disability Challengers towards their adventure playground at Farnham. We are very please to hear that the project is very near completion and that the facility will be fully operational for the first time on 7th April 2008.

March 2008 We were approached by the parents of a 16 year old boy from Staffordshire who has Cerebral Palsy and is unable to walk. As their son is now growing up he is becoming difficult to lift him from his wheelchair and into the car. A Turny specialist swivel seat with armrests would enable them to transfer him easily and allow him to travel in comfort and safety. We were happy to be able to help with a grant of £2,400.00

March 2008 Mapledown is a special needs secondary school based in Cricklewood, London and is for pupils ages 11 - 19 with severe and complex learning difficulties. It currently has 60 pupils on role. The school approached The ACT Foundation for a grant to help improve their outdoor play area which would provide their students with a stimulating environment. The school run an after school club which would ensure that the equipment was being used throughout the year. The ACT Foundation have agreed to help with a pledge of £5,000.00

February 2008 Reach Out Projects is a charity based in Hertfordshire which has been providing opportunities and experiences to people of all ages who have disabilities and special needs since 1981. They currently have three Canal Boats on the Grand Union Canal which are equipped with lifts to allow wheelchair access and specially adapted equipment to allow disabled users be involved with the workings of the boats and locks. Reach Out approached The ACT Foundation to see if we could help with a major project to improve their boat base by installing a tiered ramp leading directly from their new reception area to the boat mooring. The ACT Foundation were happy to oblige with a grant of £5,000.00

February 2008 Castle Morpeth Disability Association is based in Northumberland and was founded in 1987. They have a pilot scheme for computer training for older and disabled clients, which results in them being given a reconditioned computer to work on at home. Old computers are collected from organisations and waste disposal sites and younger, disadvantaged volunteers will be trained to build and recondition the computers. This will give them work experience and in turn will give them better employment prospects. The ACT Foundation were able to help this pilot scheme with a grant of £1,000.00

February 2008 We received an application for a grant from a 44 year old lady from Dorset who has chronic arthritis, diabetes and asthma. She desperately needed respite and had managed to raise £300.00 towards a break at Forresters which is is a respite centre for people who have experienced any form of mental distress. She was still £264.00 short of the full cost and The ACT Foundation were happy to grant the shortfall.

January 2008 The ACT Foundation were able to grant £1482.00 to a man from Berkshire who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1981. The grant was used to purchase a hoist to go into his bedroom which will help with transfers and alleviate some of the workload for his wife, who is his main carer.

January 2008 Bluebell Wood is a newly built childrens hospice in Sheffield. It has 8 bedrooms, 7 family rooms and 2 rooms for siblings. The hospice will be able to care for 200 children per year and began a phased opening for respite in November 2007. The ACT Foundation were happy to help fund some of their equipment in their medical room by granting a donation of £5,000.00 towards the costs.

January 2008 The ACT Foundation were approached by the family of a little boy from Lancashire who has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, which affects all four limbs, and multi-focal epilepsy. It had been recommended that he be kept in a symmetrical position whilst sleeping which would keep him in a comfortabel position and also making it easier for him to breathe. Over time this would help prevent infections and dislocation of his hips. We were pleased grant a donation of £855.00 to purchase a Symmetrisleep sleep system.

December 2007 Tiny Tim's Children's Centre is a registered charity where children with Cerebral Palsy can go for treatment on a weekly basis and is completely free of charge. Treatment includes a range of neuromuscular massage, passive and active joint movement exercise, and in some cases force resistant exercise. The Act Foundation were approached for funding to help withequipment such as external decoration, ceiling tiles and automatic door openers as well as new fire doors. A donation of £1,000 was granted towards their new fire doors.

December 2007 The ACT Foundation were very pleased to be able to help a young man from London who suffers greatly from a communication disorder known as clustering, combined with stuttering. He had attended The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children and had been assessed as being suitable for using a Voice-Amp system. This device will allow him to listen to his own voice at the same time as speaking and allow him to continue his therapy and self-help. £1,250.00 was granted to allow his family to purchase this piece of equipment.

December 2007 We received an application from the mother of a nine year old girl from Rutland who suffered from Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, which is a life limiting condition. She is dependant on others for all her needs and is cared for at home by her mother full time and needs oxygen throughout the night. An O2 saturation monitor would give her mother peace of mind that her daughter was getting enough oxygen at times of need. The ACT Foundation were pleased to be able to grant a donation of £190.00 to purchase this equipment.

November 2007 We were approached by the full time carers of a lady with Cerebral Palsy to see if we could help towards funding for a stay at Vitalise over Christmas for her. Both of the carers were themselves going away and this lady was going to be left alone with no family living near. We were happy to award a grant of £550.00 towards the cost.

November 2007 The ACT Foundation were very pleased to grant a donation of £120.00 to help a man with Cerebral Palsy from London purchase a custon made lycra glove which will help him control his hand movements and provide him with sensory fedback.

November 2007 The Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBAH) is a charity providing information and advice about spina bifida and hydrocephalus to individuals, families and carers. The Greenwich and District branch have a small holiday bungalow that they let out for respite breaks to their members. The bungalow was in desperate need of refurbishment and the ACT Foundation granted £2,972.00 towards the cost of installing a hoist and showerchairto enable even the most severely disabled person to use the facilities.

October 2007 The National Autistic Society is a charity which providesspecialist individual care and support for 12 men and women aged 18-30 in two self contained residential houses. This year their aim is to fit sensory equipment in each of the houses "Quite Rooms". These rooms are where clients can enjoy "calm down" space and on occasions where it has been identified that clients behaviour is escalating towards an incident. The ACT Foundation were pleased to be able to grant an award of £1,500 towards the equipment.

October 2007 We were very happy to award a grant for £1,625 for a portable hoist, to a gent from Lincolnshire who has a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. This man falls out of his wheelchair occasionally and his wife can not help him back up from the floor due to a difference in their size. In the past she has had to call out the ambulance service or friends to help her lift him.

October 2007 We were approached by a gentleman from London who suffers from chronic complex needs which affects his mobility. He lives alone with help from a substantial package of care from the Primary Care Trust but wants to remain as independent as possible. He needs to be turned 3 or 4 times during the night to alleviate some of his pain and help prevent pressure ulcers but he didn't want a carer overnnight. A Baltic Bed is height adjustable so as to make his care easier, but also would allow him to turn over independently during the night. The ACT Foundation pledged a grant of £1,000 towards the cost.

October 2007 The Act Foundation were very pleased to be able to grant a donation of £5,000 to a small charity called Unity of Children, which is registered in the UK to benefit the work of the non government organisation Childrens Care and Protection Rwanda. This organisation works with the orphans of genocide and has set up the Nsinda Vocational Training Centre whose aim is to provide disadvantaged young people with vocational skills to enable them to find a job. The proposal is to expand the centre to enable 120 young people a year to be educated in vocational skills.

September 2007 We received an application from a gent who had suffered a brain tumour which resulted in blackouts and being left partially sighted. This gent had been self employed as a newsagent but was no longer able to see well enought to be able to continue. A Scanner Reader is a piece of equipment which can scan any page up to A4 size and which then "reads" the words back to you. The scanner has the ability to store at lease 200,000 pages. We were happly to grant a donation of £900 towards the cost of the equipment.

September 2007 The Meath Epilepsy Trust, based in Surrey provides support and a caring home for up to 70 adults with severe epilepsy who also have a learning and/or physical disability. The Act Foundation were pleased to be able to pledge £20,000 towards their refurbishment of some of their accomodation to provide bigger, single, en-suite rooms.

September 2007 We were approached by the mum of a young girl from Queensferry, in North Wales, to see if we could help with any funding for a specialist swivel car seat for her daughter, who suffers from cerebral palsy. Mum had been using a disabled turning circle to help her daughter into the car, but since the new law regarding children and booter seats came into effect, she was no longer able to use it. The ACT Foundation were able to help with a grant of £1,151.00.

September 2007 Disability Challengers is a charity whose aim is too support children and young people with any form of learning, physical or sensory impairment. They provide a range of fun and challenging activities for children of all ages. The ACT Foundation were very happy to offer support in the form of a pledge for £20,000 to Disability Challengers for their Big Play Appeal. Our grant will be used towards the adventure playgound for disabled children and young people.

August 2007 We were very happy to help the mother of a severely disabled young woman from Middlesex when she approached us for help funding some sensory equipment for her daughter. This young woman has multiple disabilities as well as learning difficulties and presents with challenging behaviour. Sensory equipment from SpaceKraft was identified and will help relax this young woman and so in turn reduce her challenging behaviour. Her mother is the sole carer and being able to stimulate her daughter in other ways with give her a little respite in her own home. The ACT Foundation granted an award of £450. August 2007 The ACT Foundation were able to help a gent from the North West when he applied for a grant to purchase a duel wheelchair and scooter hoist for his car. This man had suffered a stroke and brain haemorrage 10 years ago and used a manual wheelchair or electric scooter for mobility. He and his wife used their car for longer journeys but were finding it increasingly difficult to lift either his wheelchair, or scooter into his car. The Backpacker hoist is used via a wired control on his car, or by remote control. An award of £1,998 was granted and will be used to help give this man and his wife back some independence.

August 2007 We were pleased to be able to offer support by way of a grant for £10,000 to Henshaws Society for Blind People. Henshaws College offers specialist further education for young people between the ages of 16 and 25 who are blind or visually impaired and who also have additional disabilities and educational needs. The grant is being used to help fund the second phase of a new 22-bed student accomodation which will include 10 rooms for wheelchair users and 2 self-contained, two bedroom "independence flats".

August 2007 We were approached by by the parents of a 12 year old girl for help in installing a hand-wash basin in their daughters bedroom. Their daughter has a rare genetic disorder called Falconi's Cystinosis which is a disease of the kidneys and means that she has to have dialysis every night. Hygiene and rigorous hand washing is paramount and the basin in her bedroom means that risks of infection are kept to a minimum. The ACT Foundation were happy to help with a donation of £765.

July 2007 We were happy to grant an award of £1,985 to a young lady from Shropshire who approached us for help with funding adaptations to her car through Steering Developments. This lady has an aggressive form of Rheumatoid Arthritis and had endured many orthopaedic operations. Adaptations to her car means that she is able to maintain her independance and mobility.

July 2007 We were approached for funding to purchase a mobility scooter for young woman who, after having meningitis as a child, was left with right sided weakness. The lady, from Stoke on Trent, has a small baby and will use a special harness to carry the baby whilst using the scooter. A grant of £1,180 was granted to purchase the scooter.

July 2007 The ACT Foundation were please to pledge £750 towards a Lightwriter with Dectalk for a gentleman who has speech problems caused by the effects of Parkingsons Disease.

June 2007 The ACT Foundation was approached by The Daisy Chain Project to help towards funding their Day Centre. Daisy Chain is based in Stockton-on-Tees and provides help and support for children with Autism and their families. The centre will eventually include an overnight respite facility. We were happy to pledge an grant of £5000 which will be used towards furniture and equipment for the centre.

June 2007 We received an application for a grant from a lady in Shropshire who had suffered Polio as a child and was having difficulty with independant feeding. We were able to grant an award of £750 which was used to help purchase a Neater Eater. A Neater Eater is an electric feeder that is programmed to serve food. It has many different operating modes to choose from for the movement of the spoon & for turning the plate and can be programmed for up to 5 individuals.

June 2007 We were very pleased to be able to help Treloar Trust by awarding a grant of £13790. The grant is being used to purchase a My Tobii eye gaze computer system which will allow the individual to operate a computer just by looking at the screen. One unit can serve many individuals by a quick and automatic calibration which is then stored as a personal file.

May 2007 The ACT Foundation was pleased to pledge a grant of £750 to young man who was injured in a road traffic and left a Tetraplegic. This man was having difficulty driving his adaped car due to lower limb spasms but had been using a MOTOmed exercise machine at the day centre he was attending, which had help reduce these spasms. The grant will be used towards the purchase one of the specialist exercise machines for the man to use in his home. May 2007 We were happy to grant a donation of £320 to a boy of 10 from Enfield who is an insulin dependent Diabetic and whose parents are both disabled. The grant was used so that he would go on a respite break with Diabetes UK May 2007 A grant of £500 was used to help an elderly couple from Scotland buy a power pack for their daughters wheelchair. The couple's daughter has Downs Syndrome and lives in a residential home. They visit her every day but had recently found taking her out in the wheelchair difficult due to their own poor health.

May 2007 The Orchardville Society is based in Belfast and is commited to working to ensure that a range of appropriate quality opportunities for social, personal and vocational develoment are made available to people with learning disabilities. We were approached to help fund catering equipment in a kitchen to train young people to give them skills used in the catering profession. We were pleased to grant £2,500 towards this project.

April 2007 The ACT Foundation was pleased to offer support to The Hollybank Trust by pledging £50,000. Our grant will help towards building Cliffe House which will be a home for life, for six adults with profound physical and learning difficulties.

April 2007 £1395 was granted to a young man with cerebral palsy to help fund a Mighty Mo communication aid. The aid will help him to integrate more fully into society, and he has recently been successfully interviewed for a part time post working for a charity.

March 2007 The ACT Foundation have pledged £5,000 to The Essex Autistic Society to help towards building residential accomodation for three adult service users with complex needs.

March 2007 A grant of £1342 was used to purchase automated window openers for a gent in the North West who suffers from Muscular Dystrophy. Having this equipment will enable the man to manage his own environment and comfort levels.

March 2007 We were very please to be able to pledge an award of £10,000 to The Garwood Foundation. The grant will be used to help fund a new annex to Rutherford School, which is a special school catering for children aged between 2 and 12 who have profound and multiple learning and physical disabilities.

February 2007 The ACT Foundation were please to pledge an award of £1000 to PICS (Parents Information & Contact Service) which will help fund a group stay at The Calvert Trust. The Calvert Trust is a centre specially equipped to allow disabled guests take part in activities they may otherwise be excluded from.

February 2007 Thrive is a national charity, founded in 1978, and makes use of gardening to change the lives of disabled people. They approached The ACT Foundation for a grant towards their Secret Garden Appeal and received a pledge of £2,500.

February 2007 The ACT Foundation were happy to support the extension of the Sussex Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Centre by pledging £5,000 towards their appeal. Part of the extension will provide a larger excercise room which currently only allows 7 people per class.

January 2007 - The Dame Hannah Rogers School provides a boarding school education for children with profound physical disabilities and has been been working with young children for over 200 years. The ACT Foundation were pleased to pledge an award of £30,000 towards an project to upgrade the bedrooms and bathing facilities for the students.

January 2007 - We received an application for a grant to fund a respite break for a disabled lady from The Midlands. ACT were happy to pledge £440 towards a break at a John Grooms specialist hotel catering for people with a disability.

January 2007 - The ACT Foundation were pleased to pledge support of £1695 towards an excercise machine for a 35 year old gent from Scotland. The Thera Live machine will allow this severely disabled man to passively move his limbs which in turn will help improve his circulation.

December 2006 - A grant of £749 was used to purchase a piece of specialist play equipment called a Super Pethna training aid for a seven year old girl from the Birmingham area who has Autism and a profound learning difficulty.

December 2006 - The ACT Foundation pledged a grant of £5,000 to The Cedar Foundation which is a charity based in Northern Ireland and works with people with physical disablilities. The grant was used to purchase furniture and fittings to a residential facility.

November 2006 - 29th November saw the opening of the new sportsclub at WAMDSAD which The ACT Foundation pledged a donation of £5,000 towards in March of this year. The aim of WAMDSAD is to provide sports and recreation and an active social environment for their members, who are both disabled and able bodied.

November 2006 - ACTwere happy to pledge £1,250 to St Albans Junior PHAB Club towards funding a residential trip to a specialist centre for some of their members. PHAB Club is a registered charity whose aim is to bring children with phisical disabilities together with able bodied children to take part in activities together.

November 2006 - We received an application for a grant for a little boy from Wales who suffers from a rare condition called Smith-Magenis Syndrome. This little boy has severe feeding difficulties and the grant was used to purchase a special unbreakable mirror which would be used to promote imitation and also encourage him to touch and taste new foods.

November 2006 - The ACT Foundation pledged £10,000 to Inspire towards their Boulevard Project. The Boulevard Project will provide training, recreational and social activities for people with learning disablilities from North East of Scotland.

October 2006 - The ACT Foundation were pleased to grant an award of £1950 towards the cost of a Cougar Electric Cycle for a gentleman from Derby who surrers from Muscular Dystrophy

October 2006 - A grant of £525 was awarded to the parents of a 10 year old boy from Lanarkshire who suffers from Angelman Syndrome and epilepsy . This young boy wakes frequently through the night and the grant was used to purchase a heated water matress which will comfort and help him to sleep

September 2006 - ACT pledges £2,500 for specialist communication system for a man with Cerebral Palsy

September 2006 - Helen Ley House is a specialist nursing home in Leamington Spa, which offers respite care for people with Multiple Sclerosis. ACT awarded a grant of £4,800 to help towards their much needed refurbishment.

September 2006 - The ACT Foundation were please to pledge £2,500 towards a specialist bath for a 10 year old girl from Chesterfield who has a rare chromosomal abnormality and other complex disabilities.

August 2006 - We are delighted to announce that Trustees of The ACT Foundation have approved an award of £50,000 towards the cost of a new residential block for Prior's Court Foundation based in Thatcham, Berkshire. Priors Court is a school which caters for children between the ages of 5 and 19 who have been diagnosed as being on the Autistic Spectrum.

August 2006 - The ACT Foundation took pleasure in awarding £4,500 to BASIC (Brain and Spinal Injury Centre) based in Salford near Manchester. The grant was used to purchase a specialist exercise chair for use in their auto-therapy gym, BodyBASIC at the Neuro Care Centre.

August 2006 - Cam Sight is a registered charity based in Cambridge which supports local visually impaired people to live independently. The ACT Foundation awarded a grant of £1,000 towards their Living Skills Training which covers food preparation and cooking in a specially designed kitchen. The grant was used to buy kitchen equipment which included a talking microwave.

July 2006 - ACT grants £ 5,450 for half the cost of a specialist wheelchair for a teenager from Chesterfield with cerebral palsy.

July 2006 - The Act Foundation was pleased to donate £2,000 to West Sussex Mind towards a conversion which will provide 3 extra counselling rooms and two group meeting rooms.

June 2006 - Scope is granted £5,000 to buy equipment for Rutland House School which is a special school for children with cerebral palsy.

June 2006 - The ACT Foundation awards a grant of £2.000 to United Response which will be used to purchase communication aids for disabled with no speech.

May 2006 - Rehability in Co. Antrim receives grant of £1,500 towards new computer system.

May 2006 - ACT pledges £10,000 to The Federation of London Youth Clubs towards converting wheelchair accessible accommodation at Woodrow High House .

May 2006 - MENCAP in Ipswich is pledged £2,500 towards extension to a bungalow which will provide respite care.

March 2006 - ACT pledges £10,000 to The Eyeless Trust to help fund respite holidays for blind children

March 2006 - WAMSDAD receives a grant of £5,000 towards a new sports hall for the disabled.

February 2006 - ACT is delighted to announce the extension of its partnership with Treloar by extending its funding of the rehabilitation engineering unit for a further 3 years at a cost of £500,000. In addition ACT has pledged a further £500,000 towards new halls of residence at Treloar College.

January 2006 - Ovingdean Hall School for the deaf receives a grant of £7,237 towards a performing arts studio

December 2005 - The Link Centre for Deafened People is awarded a grant of £10,000

December 2005 - The Trinity Appeal for the homeless in Winchester is awarded a grant of £5,000 towards a new hostel

November 2005 - Mike Street OBE is appointed Chairman of The ACT Foundation following the retirement of Ted Gostling.

November 2005 - ACT awards The Hampshire Autistic Society £5,000 to help set up an IT learning suite

September 2005 - ACT awards a £4,300 grant to SIGN to provide sign language resources to deaf children

August 2005 - Action For Kids is awarded a grant of £100,000 towards its appeal to raise money for new premises.

July 2005 - ACT donates £100,000 to The National Star College in Cheltenham to help fund Cleeve Bungalow a new childrens home on the site.

June 2005 - ACT awards Holyport Manor School in Maidenhead a grant of £7,706 to purchase a "smart wheelchair".

May 2005 - Brighton Society for the Blind are awarded a grant from ACT of £4,177 to fund equipment for the blind.

April 2005 - Corbet Tey School, Essex, a specialist school for children with disabilities are awarded a grant of £20,000 by ACT to fund a sensory room and library.

April 2005 - Wavemakers sponsored by ACT holds its national awards ceremony at the Sound Café in Leicester Square.

April 2005 - ACT renews its partnership with Whizz Kidz and increases support to £100,000.

March 2005 - The Lord Tunnicliffe is appointed as a Trustee. Denis Tunnicliffe joined BOAC as a pilot after graduating with a maths degree from University College London. He flew for 6 years before joining the management team of British Airways and he held senior positions in industrial relations, planning, procurement, marketing and strategy. In 1988 he became Managing Director of London Underground and served in that role for ten years before becoming chairman of LU and the Chief Executive of London Transport, a position he held until its break up in the year 2000. In 2002 he joined the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and was for two years its part-time non-executive chairman. On 1 April 2003 Denis became part-time non-executive Chairman of the Rail Safety and Standards Board, and more recently joined the House of Lords as a Labour working peer.

February 2005 - SENSE are awarded a grant of £11,300 to help with the refurbishment costs to a care home for the deaf blind.

February 2005 - ACT awards a grant of £4,155 to The Rochadale Cycling Club to buy a rickshaw to allow disabled children to enjoy cycling with the club.

February 2005 - ACT awards The Disabilities Trust a grant of £25K to furnish its newly completed rehabiliation unit in Ely.

January 2005 - Airways Charitable Trust Limited announces that it has changed its name to The ACT Foundation. See our Press/Web Release for more information.

November 2004 - ACT provides a £200K grant to Seeability (www.seeability.org), formerly the Royal School for the Blind, towards the construction of Windmill Court in Honiton, Devon, which will provide 8 supported living apartments for young adults with disabilities.

November 2004 - ACT provides a £50K grant to Hollybank Trust (www.hollybanktrust.org.uk) towards the refurbishment of a new residential unit in West Yorkshire for young adults with disabilities.

November 2004 - ACT agrees to partner with John Grooms (www.johngrooms.org.uk) and Dame Hannah Rogers School (www.damehannah.com) in Devon to provide post school residential units for young adults with disabilities.

October 2004 - Royal School for the Deaf, Cheadle are awarded £10,000 towards the cost of funding and equipping a sports hall www.rsdmanchester.org

October 2004 - ACT awards the Orpheus Centre, a residential school for the disabled in Surrey, a grant of £16,400 to fund disabled access conversion costs www.orpheus.org.uk

August 2004 - ACT pledges £1m to White Lodge for the rebuilding of its respite cottage.

August 2004 - ACT partners with Whizz Kidz for the provision of mobility aids for disabled children.

July 2004 - ACT provides £500K over 3 years to Treloar Trust to help fund the Rehabilitation Engineering Unit.

July 2004 - ACT to fund the refurbishment of Willow and Jasmine, children's houses, for The Children's Trust

June 2004 - ACT pledges £100K towards the new International Children's Hospital at Moorfields

May 2004 - Our new website goes live.

May 2004 - ACT purchases school in Sao Paolo for the use of Meninis do Morumbi

April 2004 - ACT becomes the first grant partner for Wavemakers (previously Child of Achievement).

Archive News

Applying for a grant