Good causes

WPA Benevolent
Foundation

It is well recognised and established that improving the health of young people is proven to have a significant effect on the lifestyle choices and long-term health of their wider families. As a result, the WPA Benevolent Foundation fulfils WPA's second constitutional objective and has a clear remit: to promote good health in young people.

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WPA Charitable
Foundation

Find out more

WPA Charitable Foundation

The WPA Charitable Foundation´s roots go back to the 1940s when the Western Provident Association was known as the Bristol Hospitals Fund.

The Charity is registered with the Charity Commission: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission.

The role of the WPA Charitable Foundation is to support and assist families in the South West in financial distress with profoundly ill children and to support projects promoting the good health of children. These children, more often than not, require intensive specialised treatment far from home, often for days or weeks at a time and the Charity provides essential help with travelling costs - which makes so much difference in these deeply distressing circumstances.

Sadly, it is not possible to apply directly for assistance - the Charity relies upon a network, established over many years, of Social Services Officers and healthcare professionals to bring essential, documented cases to the attention of our grants team.

If you would like to make a donation or need further information please contact us at info@wpacharitablefoundation.org

In addition to our direct charitable endeavours, WPA has a formal policy that grants two fully paid days of Charity-Work leave to all members of staff, to be spent on any local charitable cause of their choice.

Here are some real examples from the last twelve months that demonstrate the help and support that we provide (names have been changed to preserve anonymity):

Donald (15 years old) (2019)

Donald was diagnosed with leukaemia and, with recurring infections, has had several years of treatment in three hospitals. Working part-time on low incomes, his parents were struggling to balance looking after his three siblings and Donald’s extensive travel requirements and the Foundation was able to give immediate assistance.

Jenny (2 years old) (2019)

2 year old Jenny has had recurring kidney failure requiring regular peritoneal dialysis and gastrotomy feeding. With hospital being over 200 miles away and the added complication of sepsis, the family was put under further pressure and the Foundation was pleased to help.

John (2 months old) (2019)

Cardiac issues were identified before John was born causing a complicated birth and intensive care including blood clots, atrial thrombus and poor weight gain meaning that he requires close monitoring for the foreseeable future. The family’s challenge was further compounded when they were evicted from their home and the Charity was able to help with some of their travel costs to and from hospital.

Louise (4 years old) (2019)

Not helped by a severely weakened immune system, Louise has had 6 months of intensive care and chemotherapy involving many visits to hospital to stabilise her Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. While the cancer has been stabilised, Louise requires another two years of treatment and the family has been supported by the Charity.

George – (10 years old) (2018)

While his father is off work with a serious heart condition, George from Cornwall has Hodgkins Lymphoma, has been on a 4 week cycle of chemotherapy and told that he has a brain tumour. With five brothers and sisters, the family has been struggling financially and the Foundation has been able to help with travel costs to and from hospital.

Chloe – (6 months old) (2018)

Chloe has been in hospital since she was born with an underdeveloped heart. Her sister has gone to live with relations and her parents have stopped working to concentrate on her recovery so they have very little income while they apply for benefits. Again, the Foundation is pleased to help.

Fred – (4 years old) (2018)

Fred has a serious and rare condition that requires surgery far from home. He is one of four children whose parents are studying with no access to benefits or income so are being supported by their local community. The Foundation has made a maximum grant to keep the family going during this challenging time.

Jade – (12 years old) (2018)

Jade, from Devon, was admitted for a bronchoscopy severely affecting the left lung and requiring intensive care at the Bristol Children’s Hospital. While Jade has only been home for two days in 3 months, the family has been under intense pressure: Her mother has been made redundant and her sister has an eating disorder. In a case like this, the Charity was pleased to support the family’s travel expenses.

Anne – (3 months old) (2018)

Having chronic kidney problems from birth, Anne has never been home and her mother goes to hospital by bus daily to be with her. With intense financial pressures such as a family income of less than £10,000 per year, this story matches exactly the kind of project that the Trustees want to support.

Peter – (1 year old) (2017)

Peter was diagnosed with a brain stem tumour in October 2016 and has since had major surgery and intensive rehabilitation with profound side effects. He continues to be fed by nasal gastric tube and has to have oxygen overnight. Whilst most of the tumour has been removed, the doctors were not able to resect all of the tumour and therefore close monitoring will continue. Peter´s parents have had to travel between their home and the hospital on a regular basis and the Foundation has been able to help with their travel costs.

Nicole – (4 years old) (2017)

Nicole has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and the treatments involve regular chemotherapy and steroids which are expected to last until the summer of 2018. Hospital visits have taken place approximately 8 times a month since the diagnoses in May 2016 and Nicole´s mother is supporting Nicole on her own. The Foundation is pleased to help the family with their travel costs to and from hospital.

Connor – (6 years old) (2016)

Connor was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer in his upper right arm last year. Intensive chemotherapy, numerous complications and side effects have meant more trips to hospital than expected and possible amputation. Connor´s father is disabled, his mother has given up work to care for the family so the Charity was pleased to help.

James – (8 months old) (2016)

James was born with Pierre Robin Sequence, a cleft palette, feeding and breathing difficulties. He also suffered a diaphragmatic hernia and misplaced intestines and has intensive care needs to help with breathing and feeding. James´ mother is a single parent, has given up work and has now been trained in tracheostomy care. The Foundation has been able to help with travel costs to hospital.

Alice – (10 years old) (2016)

Alice was born prematurely at 27 weeks and was diagnosed with four limb cerebral palsy with some visual impairment. She has difficulty communicating verbally, has restricted movements and is cared for by her mother while her father is on a low income. A recent infection has manifested itself in painful mouth ulcers which are proving a challenge to cure so the Charity was pleased to alleviate their financial stress.

Becky – (6 years old) (2015)

Becky had completed two years of treatment for her cancer but relapsed and had to spend 14 weeks in the Bristol Children´s Hospital. The family lives 150 miles away and visiting Becky as often as possible impacted the family, both emotionally and financially. The Charity was pleased to be able to help with their travel costs.

Lucy – (18 months old) (2015)

Lucy, from Cornwall, was admitted to hospital after being diagnosed with a tumour and later transferred to the Bristol Children´s Hospital for surgery, which had to be delayed for 26 weeks of chemotherapy. Her mother is a single parent with three other children so the Charity was pleased to go some way to reducing the family´s burden.

Jamie – (6 months old) (2015)

Jamie was diagnosed with a heart condition at birth. Having spent his first few weeks in hospital, there were complications after his operation at two months, which resulted in an extended stay. While the hospital was able to help him during the first admission, the Charity was pleased to be able to support the family during the extended stay.

WPA Benevolent Foundation

The Foundation likes to support projects throughout the South West, working with communities and special-interest groups who share our hopes and ambitions. Longer-term partnerships ensure that we are able to work from the inception of a ´good idea´ through to maturity.

The Trustees of the WPA Benevolent Foundation direct the work of the Foundation and decide which health and wellbeing projects it will support. At the current time we are broadening our footprint - extending the Somerset primary schools project more nationally, whilst continuing to support the WPA Charitable Foundation.

Unfortunately, the WPA Benevolent Foundation is not able to accept applications unless their submission has been agreed in advance. If you would like to be considered, please send a brief project description by e-mail, including a contact telephone number, to charlie.macewan@wpafoundation.org and he will be able to guide you as to whether your project falls within the priority areas for the Foundation.

The Benevolent Foundation is the Corporate Trustee of the WPA Charitable Foundation, which supports families in the South West in financial distress with profoundly ill children and supports projects promoting the good health of children.