A regular helping hand from the kind-hearted team at a Ledbury transport firm is making a difference to scores of children and adults in Herefordshire and beyond living with motor disorders such as cerebral palsy.
The relationship between Palletline-owned ABE Ledbury and Megan Baker House stretches back more than 15 years, with ABE directors and employees often donating time, effort and funds to help charity operations.
Lee Gough, Chief Executive of the Ledbury-based charity, which provides conductive education sessions for babies, children and adults of all ages, said the contribution from ABE over the years, which has included fundraising activities, promotion, collections and practical help such as transportation, had proven invaluable – not least since the event of Covid which has proven to be one of the most challenging periods in living memory for the charitable sector.
Residents, workers and commuters travelling in or between Herefordshire and South Wales in particular may well be familiar with the name Megan Baker House thanks to ABE’s 44-tonne lorry whose livery promotes the facility.
“When ABE offered to wrap a lorry for Megan Baker House it was wonderful,” Lee said. “This is not the sort of offer that ever really comes our way and it provided us with a perfect platform to raise our profile, particularly among people in an area which could benefit from our service.”
Over the years the team has also organised various collections, helped out practically and raised funds for the charity. Fundraising activities include a half-marathon completed by ABE’s Distribution and Warehousing Manager Lorraine Brooks.
Every penny raised has been put towards running the facility which caters for some 150 service users, most of whom live within a two-hour radius but since the event of Covid and Zoom meetings can now come from anywhere in the UK.
“There aren’t many facilities like ours,” Lee said. “There are others in London, Brighton and Aylesbury, so potentially we have a far-reaching area.
“We are in the midst of a lottery grant which is worth £100,000 a year for three years. While every penny is welcome, lottery funding has a very strict criteria and with no government help we need to find between £350,000 and £400,000 a year to meet running costs.
“This is where a close working relationship with companies like ABE are so useful. Whether helping us to raise funds or by loaning their staff and equipment to help us save on costs, they are invaluable to us. We wouldn’t be able to function the way we do without such help
– when we moved out of our last building in Leominster in 2020, after 14 years, they sent a lorry along and physically helped us move. I know I can drop them an email and they will try to help out in any way they can.”
Clive Brooks, Managing Director of ABE Ledbury said: “Megan Baker House is a much-loved and treasured facility not just within the Ledbury community but far beyond. Over more than two decades it has provided an invaluable service to thousands of adults and children affected by neurological motor disorders including cerebral palsy, dyspraxia, Parkinson’s, stroke, MS and acquired brain injury.
“The charity works tirelessly with its service users, helping to make a real difference to their lives by teaching them how to manage their conditions and remain independent, but of course the services have to come at a cost, and we are only too delighted to help raise funds towards meeting those costs where we can.”
As well as its long-term relationship with Megan Baker House ABE is a key player with other charities. The company supports a local foodbank and has donated a refrigerator to the cause, and also works with St Michael’s Hospice in Herefordshire.
For further information on Megan Baker House log on to https://www.meganbakerhouse.org.uk/
