Foundation | South Wales | Sinclair Group

Sinclair Foundation

The Sinclair Foundation is a registered charity to benefit Sinclair employee members, the Foundation has a fund of money to give back to members who need financial support in times of hardship due to ill health of themselves or a family member.

Why was it created?

The Foundation was created as a result of an appeal to support one of our colleagues Nicole Blower, who was in very sad and difficult circumstances when she found out in the last months of pregnancy that she had a brain tumour.

Her son Harvey was born safely but Nicole had to undertake a serious operation and a year of chemotherapy to try to beat the cancer. Nicole’s husband Stefan gave up work to look after Nicole and their son, which was why we decided to help them financially at this difficult time.

We organised a charity football match and payroll donations which raised many thousands of pounds, the Company, as well as the Foundation supported Nicole financially and we visited her many times during her illness.

Tragically Nicole passed away at the end of 2011 and once again the family made us aware of their appreciation of the very generous support, we, her colleagues, gave her and how much it meant to her that the Sinclair team were all behind her.

The generosity and compassion shown by everyone at the time made us realise what a kind and caring team we have in the Sinclair Group and we wanted to ensure that we can help people in future who may also be in difficult circumstances.

Thus, we created the Sinclair Foundation.

Where does the money come from?

The fund comes from voluntary payroll donations from employees, who then become members of the Foundation. We rely on the same generosity that was shown to Nicole to be harnessed on an ongoing basis so that we can support people when they need it. We therefore presume that everyone will be happy to become a member of the Foundation by donating just £1 a month from their salary. We automatically join all new employees but anyone can opt out at any time. You will see this amount being deducted on your payslip. If you do not want this to happen you simply have to let us know by emailing payroll@sinclairgroup.co.uk

Some employees want to give more than £1 per month, donations can be increased by emailing payroll@sinclairgroup.co.uk telling us how much you want to donate.

How is the money from the foundation managed?

The Foundation is managed by a number of volunteer Trustees who are all employees from the Sinclair Group, they meet to discuss applications for help and make decisions on how the fund is spent.

How can I benefit from the charity?

The aim of the charity is to assist its members with financial support in times of ill-health of themselves or a family member.

So, when those circumstances apply, members can apply to the Foundation for help to pay for something they need at that time. We do not just give out money, it has to be for something specific.

For example

We have paid for diagnostic scans when the NHS waiting list would have delayed treatment and recovery

We have paid for counselling and therapy for mental health concerns

We have paid travel expenses when people have attended specialist hospitals

We have contributed towards the cost of medical aids such as customised wheelchairs

How do i become a member?

We tell everyone about the Foundation when they join our company and automatically make them a member, deducting £1 per month from salary. If you check your payslip and do not see a £1 deduction then you are not a member currently.

How does the company support the foundation?

All money spent from the Foundation fund is matched by the Company, so if the Trustees agree support of £1000 to a member then £500 comes out of the Foundation Fund and £500 from the Company.

We are very proud of our Sinclair Foundation and what it does to support colleagues in need, I have copied below comments from two of our members who were helped by the Foundation. Both of these colleagues were happy to give their names to publish their thanks to the Foundation.

My son developed a rare and incurable condition called Relapsing Polychondritis at the age of 32. The only Doctors able to help him were based in Charing Cross hospital in London. As Dan had a young family, his wife could not take him to London regularly so I stepped in.

The Company supported me with time off for these appointments and the Foundation covered expenses like fuel, car parking and overnight stays. Without this help Dan and myself would not have been able to go to London for the treatment he needed and the support I got from the company and foundation is amazing. I don't think we could have got through this time and the loss of my son, without the help of them all.

My advice to everyone in Sinclairs, please don't be afraid to ask for help.

Brian Porch, Parts Adviser from Mercedes Benz of Bridgend

I am blessed with triplet grandsons. Jax developed a serious bowel infection after being born 3 months early, and during an operation to save him, he was left with brain damage resulting in Jax having Cerebral Palsy. This affects his speech, movement and development.

Jax parents do a lot of research to understand what can be done to improve Jax quality of life. When he was 2, we found a special tricycle that would help Jax move around and strengthen his leg muscles. With money from the Sinclair Foundation we were able to buy the tricycle which Jax loved to use to move around the house and go on fun bike rides with his brothers.

When Jax was 5 he had private funded operation in Nottingham, done by one of the very few surgeons who specialise in this operation, before and after the procedure Jax had physiotherapy to strengthen and stretch his leg muscles. The physiotherapy was done in a private clinic called SDR Fitness Wales, which is run by people who are experts at helping children with these problems.

Again, the Sinclair Foundation came to our rescue and covered the cost of the Physio sessions for one year. This helped Jax to recover from the operation and develop his walking much more quickly than if we had relied on physio through the NHS.

We as a family are so very grateful to the Sinclair Foundation for helping fund the costs of Jax's physiotherapy, without the help of foundation, it would have taken months of fundraising to help Jax gain strength in his weak little legs.

Jax is getting stronger every day, thanks to the support we have received.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Love Nicola

Nicola Williams Service Team Manager from Mercedes Benz of Cardiff & Newport

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Sinclair Foundation

Sinclair Foundation

Why was it created?

Where does the money come from?

How is the money from the foundation managed?

How can I benefit from the charity?

How do i become a member?

How does the company support the foundation?

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