In the financial year September 2006 to August 2007 the Trust made 35 grants to local charities in which members of WHSmith staff are involved. The grants amounted to £13,435.
| Name of charity | Grant awarded |
|---|---|
| SMASH | £500 |
| Cancer Research UK | £457 |
| Cheshire Penquins | £500 |
| Cancer Research UK | £500 |
| St Luke’s Hospice | £500 |
| Big Issue Foundation | £430 |
| Swindon Hydrotherapy Pool | £103 |
| Bradford North Explorer Scouts | £237.62 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Trust | £270 |
| Multiple Sclerosis Society | £110 |
| Earl Mountbatten Hospice | £307 |
| 2nd Cuddington Scout Group | £500 |
| Cancer Care and Haematology Stoke Mandeville Hospital | £1000 |
| Worcestershire RSASC | £176 |
| Coleview Pre-School | £250 |
| Burford Pre-School | £204 |
| St Michael’s Parent and Toddler Group | £150 |
| St Werburgh’s City Farm | £500 |
| Stonar School | £500 |
| 9th Swindon Brownies | £460 |
| Leapfrogs | £500 |
| Children with Leukaemia | £500 |
| Ardgowan Hospice Greenock | £500 |
| Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau | £500 |
| City of Plymouth Children Fund | £500 |
| Breakthrough Breast Cancer | £500 |
| Kelsale Village Hall Management Committee | £500 |
| The Stroke Association | £500 |
| Cancer Research UK | £198 |
| Cancer Research UK | £170 |
| Cancer Research UK | £126 |
| Cancer Research UK | £500 |
| Breakthrough Breast Cancer | £115 |
| Warren Road Primary School | £171.37 |
| Cancer Research UK | £500 |
| TOTAL | £13,435 |
Last Christmas, the WHSmith Trust Christmas Giveaway made donations to a wide range of charities with which employees are involved.
In total 95 applications were received and over £20,000 distributed to employee nominated charities.
After the cheques were sent out we received many thank you letters. Here are a few examples, which show how the Trust helped WHSmith staff support their local charities.
Helen Hewlett from WHSmith High Street Head Office supported Dorset Blind Association “… we are really grateful for this support, the money will enable us to continue our work in helping blind and partially sighted people living in Dorset.”
John Knowles from Eastbourne store supported Motcombe School “… thank you, the donation will be put towards creating a nature trail in the schools grounds.”
Michael Nicholson from St Annes store supported Windmill Youth Development Group “…. thank you for your most generous donation, the money will assist the young persons in the group achieve their full potential.”
Other charities that received a £230 donation through the Christmas Giveaway include:
• Moto in the Community - National
• Highland Hospice - Inverness
• Round Ash Pre-School - Kent
• Friends of Crowdy’s School - Swindon
• Thamesdown Hydrotherapy Pool - Swindon
• Hospital Radio Glamorgan - Cardiff
The Trust’s ‘Volunteers in Schools’ scheme aims to support members of staff who are regularly involved as representatives on either a school’s governing body, or Parent Teacher Association. The table below has examples of schools supported so far this financial year.
| Name of School | Grant Awarded |
|---|---|
| The Avenue Primary School – Middlesbrough | £500 |
| John Hunt Infant School - Newark | £250 |
| Faringdon Infant School - Swindon | £500 |
| St Paul’s Church of England Primary School - Birmingham | £500 |
The Trust receives many requests from schools asking for support. Every month the Trust holds a raffle and the winners receive a donation of WHSmith Education Achievement Reward Vouchers.
A few of the schools that the Trust has helped since September 2007 are listed below:
National Literacy Trust Summer Reading Programme
During the summer the WHSmith Trust, WHSmith PLC and the National Literacy Trust worked together to deliver the Reading is Fundamental ‘Summer Read’ programme aimed at maintaining literacy levels, promoting the fun of reading, the importance of book ownership and the benefits to families of sharing books at home. Over 3,000 children took part in over 100 ‘Summer Read’ events across the country.
Each child chooses two books to keep and also receives a book bag, bookmarks and stickers. WHSmith provided a goodie bag for each child, which included WHSmith vouchers and stationery.
The WHSmith Trust will continue to build on the success of the scheme by providing funding and support for a ‘Summer Read’ in 2008.