Charity is amazing Catalyst for change

2:15pm Thursday 26th May 2011

MONEY doesn’t grow on trees, but a Colchester charity has proved it can go a long way if spent and invested wisely.

More than 20 years after the sale of the old Oaks Hospital, in Lexden Road, hundreds of people are still benefiting from the money, thanks to the Colchester Catalyst Charity.

The charity has helped provide wheelchairs, minibuses, treatment for drug abuse, therapeutic and electronic aids, medical equipment, sensory rooms and a variety of important items and facilities to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

The organisation also helped fund the Independent Living Centre, at Catalyst House, in Newcomen Way, a purpose-built site to promote independent living for adults and children with a disability.

On top of this, the charity can offer carers short-term breaks for carers who find that they are not eligible for help from social services.

All this has been made possible by the sale of the hospital in 1989.

The land was privately owned and the £3.5million was used to set up the charity.

The money was invested in stocks and shares and the rest has been spent very wisely, meaning the charity can continue for many more years. Instead of dishing out cash to individuals and charitable groups at the drop of a hat, the charity trustees, who meet every few months, only give to people and organisations that cannot get money from any other grants and who are prepared to contribute towards equipment they need.

The charity’s Stephanie Grant said: “We only consider applications where the family or organisation involved are prepared to make contributions too.

“That way, we often find the equipment or facilities we help provide are valued and looked after much more, if they were partly bought by them.

“We also give preference to things that are sustainable and have a long-term view, so we know the money will go further for longer. We like to think we are the icing on the cake, rather than the actual cake. We can provide that little extra that wouldn’t be provided otherwise.

“For example, we often fund power packs for batteries needed to use with a wheelchair that may have already been provided on the NHS. A lot of the equipment can be very expensive.”

The charity is helping 19-year-old Jack Measures, who hopes to start a course at Colchester Institute in September.

Although Jack already has an outdoor wheelchair provided by the NHS, it is hoped the charity can contribute towards a special indoor version which will help him maintain his independence during his studies.

The wheelchair is expected to cost around £2,200 and his family will be expected to make a contribution.

His mum, Marion, said: “This chair will really help Jack to be independent and get around by himself at college.

“There is no way we could have afforded it without the charity’s help, so it is fantastic.”

In the past two decades, the charity has given away £6.8million in grants.

Recent donations include £19,452 to Opportunities Through Technology.

It is building two mobile IT classrooms to be used around north east Essex, starting in Clacton.

The charity has also given Society for Children affected by Neurological Symptoms a £10,000 grant and a £10,000 loan to provide income-generating equipment for a new project.

Mrs Grant said: “It really is amazing that 20 years later, so many people are still benefiting from the sale of the old hospital.

“We are still going strong and I just hope we can go on for another 20 years.”

http://www.essexcountystandard.co.uk/news/9051077.Charity_is_amazing_Catalyst_for_change/