Journal helps two charities
From the Salisbury Journal, first published Wednesday 22nd Dec 2004.
THE vital work of two deserving charities will continue in 2005, thanks to a hefty cash boost from Salisbury Newspapers.
Friends of Salisbury Shopmobility and the Aviation for Paraplegics and Tetraplegics Trust, based at Old Sarum Airfield, have been awarded a combined total of £7,000 in grants from the Gannett Foundation.
Gannett, the parent company of Newsquest, owners of the Salisbury Journal and Avon Advertiser series, invited local charities to apply for grants earlier this year.
After much deliberation, judges awarded Salisbury Shopmobility £2,000 for the purchase of two large, four-wheeled scooters, and APT £5,000, to subsidise the training costs of two disabled students learning fly.
Gini Churchill, chairman of Friends of Salisbury Shopmobility, was delighted to hear the charity's bid had been successful.
She said: "This is wonderful news, and thank you very much.
"The scooters we have got are wearing out - we want to provide our customers with really good quality equipment and people want to feel safe.
"We have people of all shapes and sizes using Shopmobility, and it really makes a difference."
The cash will benefit Shopmobility's existing 3,000 members, who rely on the service to access vital facilities in the city centre and to maintain a level of independence.
APT has been running since 1994 and also helps those people who are referred by the spinal injuries unit at Salisbury District Hospital.
General manager Jack Simpson was delighted when he heard about the grant, having already won the charity fundraiser category at this year's Journal People Awards.
He said: "It's fantastic news and this money will really help us in the New Year.
"I have done so well out of the Salisbury Journal this year.
"We invite people to apply for bursaries and this money will be used for that.
"We don't just help people with car and medical accidents but deal with people who have polio, spina bifida or any disability where they have lost the use of their legs and an amputation has occurred.
"Both our planes are converted, so pilots can use their arms to fly.
"We have had 13 people who have gained their full pilot's licence over the years."
The charity has helped dozens of disabled individuals gain a real sense of independence and achievement.
All students are taught by instructors of the Shadow Flight Centre.
Applicants (who must be under 14 stone in weight) are required to pay 50 per cent of each hour of training, licence application and medical fees, and general flight test and examination fees.
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