Page 37 - BPW-UK ANNUAL REVIEW 2023-2024

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 275264

This year, 2023, the Trustees of the Ruth Tomlinson Memorial Award
gave £1,000 to a student at the Lucy Cavendish College in Cambridge. The
details of this Award can be read in the Lucy Cavendish College report.
Throughout the year the Trustees have received several enquiries for
awards from organisations, unfortunately we have been unable to help these
organisations as they were applying on behalf of the organisation rather than
for a named individual.

We were also contacted by the friend of a potential recipient, asking for help in raising
money to buy a motorised Omeo wheel chair, an all-weather cover and a special cushion, her
old chair being no longer fit for purpose. After discussion amongst the Trustees and the friend
we were delighted to award monies to buy the all-weather cover.

“We are delighted to inform you after months of fundraising “P” has now been granted a
voucher from Wheelchair services to fund the remaining amount required for the Omeo chair.
She hopes this will arrive in the next few weeks so she can place the order for her chair and
patiently await its creation. The cover you so kindly funded will arrive with the chair in the
next few months.
We continue to be extremely grateful for your generosity as the grant alone would not
have provided a cover. It was your donation that kept us believing we could achieve our goal
and give “P” the freedom to live her life again. It made a significant difference to her mental
well-being knowing people were supporting her.”

We were also pleased to be able to help the four year old granddaughter of one of our
own BPW members, who had been diagnosed with Cancer. We were delighted to be able to
provide an I-pad and pencil which could be used however she was feeling. Up to that point she
had been using her Mum’s, (also a BPW member), phone. This was quite a problem for her
mum who also used the phone to run her business and so missed business calls.

“A” uses the I-pad and pencil to draw which improves her motor skills as she practises things,
such as letters, the tutor in hospital has shown her. In time she will liaise with lessons with
the class she should have joined in September, but already sends them videos and receives
them from her classmates whom she has yet to meet. When she is
attached to the various drips in hospital or her feeding tube at
home she can watch videos - usually Paw Patrol - which keeps her
spirits up when she is fatigued. Importantly she can use the I-pad
lying down. She has been shown by the animateur in hospital how
to make animation stories with Lego and Barbie dolls and how to
add sound. All of this will improve her learning and most of all
cheer her up. It is a great help to the whole family to have some-
thing that is exclusively hers, so she is not frustrated waiting to
use an adult’s phone. She can already make up a song, add drums,
then guitars, then piano before playing it back and “dancing” to
the song she has composed. This is so good for her general health
as she needs to build up her strength. And she has only had the
I- pad for a few days! “

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