Biggest ever donation received for Our House, Wokingham’s disabled children’s centre
Trustees of disabled children’s charity Building for the Future were all smiles recently when they received the largest ever single donation in the charity’s 15-year history.
Just over £35,000 was gifted to the charity by managers of construction firm Willmott Dixon following a year-long programme of fundraising.
Throughout 2024 the UK company, with its nearest offices in Farnborough, embarked upon office fundraising, a golf day and a company-wide event which saw over 80 of its employees take-on a 24-hour sponsored walking or cycling challenge.
Richard Poulter, Managing Director South, said that the fundraising feat is a highlight of the company’s year.
“We do an annual challenge every year. As a management team we do a lot of organising but this year we did some walking as well. It was a fantastic day with everyone doing their bit to raise money for Building for the Future.
“We also did a golf day where we raised money as well but this donation is predominantly out of our 24-hour charity challenge.
“It gives me great pleasure to present this cheque and we look forward to supporting Building for the Future next year.”
The charity, which provides an accessible, inclusive centre for disabled children and their families and carers to meet as well as running services for disabled teens and young people, will use the money to continue running its vital initiatives.
Said Jane Holmes, the charity’s CEO:
“The donation is absolutely amazing and is the biggest donation we have ever had. Thank you very much to Richard and to everyone at Willmott Dixon.
“This year has also seen our numbers increase and our sessions are now full. Our families tell us that they ‘couldn’t do without’ coming to Our House for support and play and connection and that vital feeling of community. There’s nowhere like us and it means so much to have the support from companies like Willmott Dixon so that we can continue to make an impact on the lives of disabled children and their families from Wokingham and the surrounding areas.”
Next year’s Willmott Dixon Charity Challenge will take a ‘race across the world’ theme where participants have reach certain checkpoints in the fastest times around the south east, Our House in Toutley Road being one of them.
“We are going to do a ‘race across our geographic patch’,” explained Richard.
“So, from Kent right out this way to Berkshire and Oxfordshire and Dorset.
“We are going to do something that will include walking and cycling and basing it around our sites and we thought we would use Our House as one of the bases so that people who are actually doing the challenge can see what they are raising money for.
“We are aiming for July 4th (we traditionally create the challenge around the longest day of the year) and we will have updates soon.”
Jane Holmes continued:
“I have taken part in the Willmott Dixon Charity Challenge before and I can tell you it’s a tough one. Some of them take off at 1am in the morning to complete the 40 or so miles in the time allotted. They are an impressive, committed bunch and we are so thankful to them all for supporting disabled children’s needs.
“Some of us will take part in the challenge next year and open Our House to give them all some well deserved refreshments!”
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