This year’s Local Charity Donations Awards were held on Thursday 14^th December at the racecourse and saw 17 local charities receiving donations totalling £30,000 from Ascot.  The donations were allocated as follows:

 

Kennel Lane School                                                                                       £1,000

The school hope to raise £20,000 in total to buy a new Mini Bus to transport pupils.

 

Locomotive Society                                                                                        £3,000

The society has approximately 60 active members.  This donation will allow them to improve their boundary with the Royal Ascot Golf Club.

   

Ascot United Football Club                                                                            £2,000

The club was founded in 1965 and is an important facility.  This money will be used to winter proof the club roof. 

 

Family Friends                                                                                                            £2,000

The charity provides volunteers to support local parents of young children who are victims of domestic violence or suffering from health problems or financial difficulties.

 

North Ascot Forget-me-Nots                                                                         £1,000

For nearly 30 years, the club has provided a weekly meeting place for pensioners.  This contribution will help finance long term transport for them.

 

Ascot Brass                                                                                                    £1,000

The money will be used to support the band’s activities.

 

Victory Fields Fundraising Committee                                                          £2,000

The Victory Fields Play Area provides a fun, safe and clean environment for the whole family to enjoy.  This contribution will aid improvement to the sports facilities.

 

Holyport Manor School                                                                                  £2,000

The school gives special educational support to those with physical, emotional and intellectual needs.  This donation will help the school to replace their Mini Bus.   

 

All Saints Pre-School                                                                                      £600

This is the only charitable pre-school provider in Ascot.  They need to raise funds to buy tricycles to aid the children’s play.

 

St John’s Ambulance                                                                                      £2,000

This voluntary self funded organisation provides first aid care in the community. This donation will help to train and support volunteers in the local community.

 

Heatherwood and Wrexham Park Hospitals                                                 £3,000

This contribution will be used to purchase equipment for the Minor Injury Unit at Heatherwood Hospital.

 

Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead Sports Association for the Disabled                    £1,000

This contribution will go towards sending local disabled athletes to the Beijing Paralympics in 2008. 

 

North Ascot Drop in                                                                                       £1,000

The centre runs activities for the benefit of older people in the local area.  This funding will allow them to supply a similar level of hospitality to that of previous years.

 

Cheapside Primary School                                                                             £2,500

This money will assist the school with improvement to the grounds, which will include walkways, planting and an adventure playground.

 

The Cordes Hall                                                                                             £900

Sunninghill’s village hall was built in 1902 and due to its age requires regular maintenance, which this funding will assist with.

 

Thames Hospice Care                                                                                                £2,000

This contribution will help support the charity, which provides a care service to local people suffering from a terminal or life-limiting illness. 

 

Sebastian’s Action Group                                                                               £3,000

These funds will help to furnish a holiday home for children with life-threatening illnesses.  

 

Jane Gates, Sebastian’s Mother and Director of Sebastian’s Action Trust, said: “We are delighted to receive this very generous amount from Ascot Racecourse which will be used in conjunction with our “Furnish it with love campaign” to equip the leisure facilities we plan to have in the house. Families visiting Sebastian’s Holiday House will be able to spend quality time together enjoying simple family past-times – playing games, watching films, making music and relaxing in the pool and spa.  It is tremendously important to us that Ascot Racecourse, being the significant feature of our home village, has chosen to support our charity.”

 

The donations committee includes racecourse Chief Executive, Douglas Erskine-Crum, and local residents who are responsible for recommending nominations to the Ascot trustees. 

   

Douglas Erskine-Crum said:

  

“Ascot takes great pride and pleasure in being able to support such a variety of charities, which provide important support to our local community.  We’re delighted to be able to make these contributions on an annual basis and further strengthen our ties with all the valuable societies, clubs and charities in the area.”

   

Press Release 14th December 2006

 

Attached Images:

 

• Jane Gates, Director of Sebastian’s Action Group receives a cheque from Douglas Erskine-Crum.

 

• Representatives from North Ascot Forget-me-Nots, Ascot Brass, Sebastian’s Action Group, The Locomotive Society, Ascot United FC, Cheapside Primary School, Victory Fields, All Saints Pre-School, Thames Hospice Care, Family Friends, Heatherwood and Wrexham Park Hospitals, North Ascot Drop in and Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead Sports Association for the Disabled.     

 

For Further Information:       

   

Nick Smith, Head of Public Relations, Ascot, 01344 878524 / 07771 791449

Milly Baker, Press Officer, Ascot, 01344 878 430 / 07717 851566

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