Click here for information about our 2006 charity, The Filling Station

Friends of Holy Cross

Friend of Holy Cross is a group which supports the upkeep of the structure of the church for the whole village

Calm

The Tomas Sands Memorial Fund, which helps children undergoing treatment for cancers such as leukaemia, was set up in memory of a young boy from Chiseldon who died from leukaemia in 1998. It has made donations to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and the Children's Cancer Ward in Bristol, as well as supporting similar units in Great Western Hospital, Swindon. Help is available for whatever the units need – from specialist equipment to TVs, videos and refrigerators to make life for the children in the isolation rooms as normal as possible.

Swindon Young Carers

Swindon Young Carers ('The Getaways')  is a support group for youngsters between 11 and 14 who are looking after ill or disabled relatives.  The group offers the opportunity for these young people to meet  together, pursue leisure activities which their responsibilities can severely restrict, and have fun

Swindon Women's Refuge

The Swindon Women's Refuge is an organisation which provides safe accommodation, advice and support to families suffering domestic violence in the Swindon area. The money raised by our production may have helped to  throw a lifeline to a desperate family.

The Meningitis Research Foundation

Meningitis Research Foundation is a national registered charity, established in 1989.  It funds vital scientific research into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia, raises awareness of the diseases, and offers support to sufferers and their families through in-depth information and befriending.

Meningitis and septicaemia can kill in hours.  People who recover may be left with disabilities that dramatically alter their lives, including brain damage, sensory disabilities, amputations and a range of non-specific after-effects, permanent and temporary.

Meningitis and septicaemia can often be successfully treated if identified in time.

The Foundation's Charitable Objects are:

To promote research into the causes and treatment of all forms of meningitis and associated infections

To promote the dissemination of knowledge gained by such research

To advance the education of the public in the causes, treatment and prevention of meningitis and associated infections

To help relieve the distress to individuals and families caused by death and damage through meningitis and associated infections

The Foundation runs dynamic and effective awareness programmes for both the general public and health professionals, which reflect best current understanding of meningitis and septicaemia. In the 2002/03 financial year, a total of 3,243,000 symptoms cards, 1,448,650 leaflets for the general public and health professionals and 302,500 posters were freely distributed by the Foundation.

The website (www.meningitis.org) is consistently rated number one in the world by the Health on the Net Foundation on the subject of meningitis.

The 24-hour helpline (Freefone 0808 800 3344) gives access to information and support whatever the time of the day or night. The helpline took more than 13,500 calls in 2002 from the public, and health and education professionals dealing with the diseases.

The charity has a membership base of over 4,000 families whose personal experience of these diseases informs all aspects of Meningitis Research Foundation's work.

Meningitis Research Foundation's vision is a world free from meningitis and septicaemia.

The Ridgeway Theatre Company chose to support the MRF this year after the recent early death from meningitis of a relative of a cast member.

For more information about the Meningitis Research Foundation, please click here

Swindon NSPCC

The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) is the UK's leading charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. It has been directly involved in protecting children and campaigning on their behalf since 1884.

The idea to support the Swindon branch of the NSPCC came in part from Michael Brightman – the landlord of the Patriots Arms in Chiseldon who has supported the Ridgeway Theatre Company for several years and is also a keen supporter of the NSPCC locally.

The NSPCC’s work to end cruelty to children includes:

• A free, 24-hour Child Protection Helplinethat provides information, advice and counselling to anyone concerned about a child's safety.
• Public education campaigns, to increase understanding about child abuse and provide advice and support on positive parenting.
• Parliamentary campaigning to persuade government, Parliament and opinion-formers to put children's issues at the top of the political agenda.
• Child protection training and advice for organisations involved in the care, protection and education of children.

Click here for information about Swindon Samaritans