Tag: Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust

Walk4Hope brings support and connection to Scots living with secondary breast cancer

People across central Scotland living with secondary breast cancer will come together in Falkirk this summer for a gentle, supportive walk designed to boost their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Make 2nds Count works across the UK to support those affected by secondary, or metastatic, breast cancer – a condition that can be treated but not cured.

The charity focuses on improving access to tailored support and funding research to extend and improve quality of life. Each year, it directly supports around 2,000 patients and reaches thousands more through education and advocacy.

The event, called Walk4Hope, will bring patients, families and friends together at Falkirk’s Helix Park for a relaxed walk around an accessible 5K route designed with participants’ needs in mind.

Walk4Hope encourages movement while offering a chance to connect with others facing similar challenges. By creating a welcoming environment outdoors, the event aims to lift mood, increase energy and foster a sense of community among those taking part.

The event has been made possible thanks in part to a £493 grant from the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, which will cover the cost of hiring the park for the day and pay for the presence of adequate first aid facilities.

Lianne Bryce, Lead Regional Fundraising Manager for Make 2nds Count, said: “The kind donation from Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust will allow us to deliver our Walk4Hope event in Scotland, bringing together our patient community, friends and family for a gentle 5K walk in the beautiful Helix Park in Falkirk.

“This 5K stroll offers significant benefits, serving as an accessible, low-impact movement to promote physical well-being, boost mood and increase energy levels. Furthermore, the event creates a supportive community setting that enhances emotional well-being, providing participants with a valuable sense of connection, empathy and companionship.”

Gerry Facenna, founder of Allied Vehicles and Trustee of the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, said: “Cancer affects every family in Scotland, and is a cause very close to my own heart.

“Make 2nds Count is doing important work to support people facing incredibly difficult circumstances. We are pleased to help bring Walk4Hope to Scotland, giving people the chance to come together and support one another.”

Walk4Hope is expected to bring a strong sense of togetherness to all involved, offering connection and support to those who need it most.

Support for Rock Trust

The Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust (AVCT) is pleased to announce a donation of £3,000 to Rock Trust, Scotland’s dedicated youth homelessness charity.  

This funding will support Rock Trust’s efforts to expand their services, including increasing housing provision and introducing their innovative Youth Housing Hub model to Glasgow for the first time. 

Rock Trust was formed in 1990 after the discovery that young homeless people had been sleeping rough in the graveyard of St. Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh, and since then has grown its operation into Glasgow, the Lothians, Perth and Fife, and is committed to ending youth homelessness.  

In 2023 alone, the organization helped over 1,100 young people to avoid, or move on from, homelessness; like Danny, who came to Rock Trust at the age of 16. 

Danny was living at home with his mum. Their relationship was troubled to the extent that his aunt had referred him to Rock Trust in the hope that their Early Intervention Programme might improve their relationship through 1-to-1 counselling. 

But when an argument between Danny and his mum eventually turned violent, it became clear that he was no longer safe. Rock Trust were quickly able to move him into a shared flat with other young people and a supportive flatmate. 

Danny’s support worker has helped him to access financial support and explore his potential. He has started going to art therapy and has completed an external employability course. 

At 16, Danny didn’t just need a home, he needed help to process everything that had happened to him, help to discover his potential, guidance on developing essential life skills, and ultimately help to make the transition to adulthood. 

Speaking of his experience with Rock Trust, Danny said, “I am more free, I’m happier, and I’m treated like an actual person. I’ve been given opportunities to do stuff and meet new people.  

“I think I’m a better person, less antisocial. A lot of bad stuff would have happened if I didn’t have the Rock Trust. I’ve even got a better relationship with my mum now we don’t live together.” 

The charity focuses on three strategic pillars: prioritizing prevention, increasing housing availability, and ensuring a focus on future opportunities for young people.  

Calum Wright, Trusts and Grants Fundraising Lead at Rock Trust, highlighted the urgency of their work: “Scotland is facing a housing emergency which is disproportionately affecting our young people.

“At Rock Trust, we believe that accommodation, support, education, and employment are the best routes off the streets and away from the misery that accompanies homelessness.

“Thanks to supporters like the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, we can help more young people avoid, survive, and move on from homelessness for good.” 

This donation from the AVCT will play a crucial role in Rock Trust’s mission to combat youth homelessness amid rising costs, cuts in statutory funding, and an increasingly competitive fundraising environment. 

David Facenna, Corporate Culture Director at Allied Vehicles Group, expressed his support, stating: “Homelessness is a heartbreakingly real prospect for many young people and a frightening reality for others.

“We are proud to support Rock Trust in their vital work to provide immediate and effective assistance to those in need and to help them build a stable future.

Our contribution aims to ensure that more young people have access to safe housing and essential ongoing support to rebuild and lead healthy, independent lives.” 

Cancer Card’s Comfort Box receives boost from Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust

The Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust is delighted to announce that Cancer Card, a Scottish charity dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by cancer, has been awarded a grant of £2,500 to support their Comfort Box scheme.  

The initiative aims to ensure that every cancer patient, regardless of their financial circumstances, has access to essential items that can improve their quality of life during treatment.  

Cancer Card was founded in 2021 by stage four cancer patient Jen Hardy MBE and offers a comprehensive online directory of local and national cancer support services, making it a crucial resource for those navigating the complexities of cancer care in Scotland.   

The Comfort Box initiative, inspired by Scotland’s Baby Box, delivers packages containing items such as digital in-ear thermometers, wool blankets, and travel mugs to help cancer patients manage their treatment and stay comfortable.  

Conveying her thanks to the Trust for the donation, Jen Hardy said: “The generous grant from the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust is invaluable in supporting our mission to ensure that no one faces cancer alone.

“With these funds, we can provide 50 additional Comfort Boxes to newly diagnosed cancer patients, offering them not only practical items but also a sense of comfort, hope, and reassurance during their cancer journey.

“This support is crucial in helping patients feel cared for and empowered as they navigate the challenges of treatment.”  

In the first four months of 2024 alone, Cancer Card distributed over 400 Comfort Boxes to patients across Scotland. Each box costs the charity £50 to produce and they are distributed to patients free of charge.

The additional 50 boxes funded by Allied Vehicles will be delivered through partnerships with Maggie’s Centres and cancer treatment wards in hospitals, as well as being available directly through the Cancer Card website.   

Gerry Facenna, founder of Allied Vehicles, expressed his pride at the Cancer Card donation: “Cancer touches every family, and the work Cancer Card does is so important; not just in distributing these items through the Comfort Box programme, but also helping to provide emotional support to cancer patients during an extremely challenging time.

“We’re pleased to support to such a great cause.”

Allied Vehicles £2k boost for Cyrenians 

An Edinburgh-based homelessness charity will be able to continue running a ground-breaking initiative in the city for the next year after a four-figure donation from one of Scotland’s leading family firms.

Cyrenians approached the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust over concerns for the future of their Homeless Navigator Project, which helps homeless men and women in Edinburgh access and engage with the support they need to secure safe accommodation and get their lives back on track.

“We focus on prevention and reaching those at the edge of homelessness, as well as those in crisis and in recovery,” said the charity.

“Beyond providing direct support to those experiencing street homelessness, we work to prevent homelessness in the first place by alleviating poverty, tackling food insecurity and providing support to families and young people.”

The Homeless Navigator Project offers potentially life-changing support to around 80 homeless people in Edinburgh ­– a street-based initiative delivering street-based emotional and practical help.

Navigators meet people where they are and help them on a journey to where they want to be. They operate in pairs in the centre of Edinburgh three times a week and develop trust-based relationships with people who may have had past negative experiences with support services.

Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust – the charity arm of Allied Vehicles Group in Glasgow – gave the group £2,000 to continue the Homeless Navigator Project.

Calum Wright, Cyrenians fundraising coordinator, said: “The recently released homelessness figures make for grim reading, with rough sleeping on the rise across Scotland.

“Thanks to the generosity of funders like the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, our Homeless Navigator project will be able to respond to this rising need and continue to offer life-saving support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“By offering a friendly face and building trusted professional relationships, our staff are able to work with those who are street homeless for as long as it takes for them to get their lives back on track.”

David Facenna, Allied Corporate Culture Director, added: “Behind the rising homelessness figures are real people who have fallen on hard times, many through no fault of their own.

“The Homeless Navigator Project is a novel way of trying to tackle it and I hope our donation will help Cyrenians keep it running over the next year.”