Trusts and Foundations

Thanks to our funders

We are very grateful to our Trusts, Foundations and other grant-making bodies for their support.

They enable us to maintain and improve our current level of service, cover core costs and provide new equipment to our members. Therefore we can continue with established projects and provide new ones, thus making it possible for our charity to improve the physical and mental health of people affected by Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s (pilot scheme) and other related neurological conditions.

The Harpur Trust:

A local Trust that has been inspiring and supporting the people of Bedford to help them improve their lives for over 450 years. They have provided us with a grant for our MS Health & Wellness Coach service.

Panacea Charitable Trust:

This charity has provided almost £5 million of funding to more than 100 local organisations and educational programmes. Its social-related grants fund is designated to support Bedford and its surrounding local community across a broad range of initiatives and recipients.
We have been grateful recipients of their grant for several years, most recently for our project: ‘A Holistic Approach to MS’, which considers the whole person, not just the illness, and supports physical & mental health through core and complementary therapies.

Wixamtree Trust:

Another supportive Trust, they focus most of their support on organisations and projects that benefit the people of Bedfordshire. We received a generous grant from them for our physiotherapy service.

Postcode Places Trust

We are delighted to have been awarded a generous grant of £25,000 from the Postcode Places Trust, a grant-giving charity funded by players of the People's Postcode Lottery.

Postcode Places Trust is a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and have funded good causes in every postcode area in Britain by supporting smaller charities and good causes to make a difference to their community for the benefit of people and planet.

The Amateurs Trust supports charitable causes in Bedfordshire, amongst others, in particular, health related charities. We would like to thank them for their generous grant towards or new exercise therapist role that will have a primary focus on helping people improve their cardiovascular fitness.

Roger & Jean Jefcoate Trust:

Roger Jefcoate is a patron of our charity. He was made a CBE for services to disabled people, was awarded the Order of St John and in 2011, he became a Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. The Trust has generously supported our charity for several years.

St John’s Hospital Trust:

Formed in the late 1100s, it is one of the oldest trusts in the UK. It was set up to provide a Hospital for poor and destitute males of the Borough of Bedford, who had fallen on hard times. A very supportive Trust, they have provided us with a grant for core services. 

We are also grateful to the Woodroffe Benton Foundation, the Strangward Trust, Douglas James Charitable Trust, Northampton Municipal Trust Charities, the Page Fund and several others that have made it possible for us to provide our 40 years of service.

Recent Projects

Hydrotherapy pool project:

Hydrotherapy provides multiple health benefits to people with neurological conditions and we refurbished and replaced our old hydro-pool this year in 2023. This has made it possible to extend our hydro-pool facilities to people with other health issues.

We could not have undertaken this large project without the support of several Trusts and donations from members and organisations that appreciate the physical and mental health benefits provided by our hydro-pool.


We would like to thank all the Trusts for their support. We received the first grant for this project from The Childwick Trust. Several other generous donors have asked not to be named.

Equipment:

More than 75% of people with MS have problems with balance, and falls are highly prevalent; it is estimated that 56% fall at least once in a 3 month period. Injuries are common if manual lifting and handling is attempted.

We needed a mobile hoist to enable us to move members with limited mobility without putting unnecessary strain on them or their carer, and reduce the risk of an injury to the lowest level possible.

The Hospital Saturday Fund provides grants of over £2.3million to illness or disability charities. Their generous grant has allowed us to purchase a mobile hoist to help prevent injuries to our members.

Funding our work

If you are considering supporting our work by making a gift through your charitable trust or foundation, we would be delighted to hear from you. We are always happy to talk about all aspects of the therapies and services we provide to people affected by MS.   

We will identify the activity or project most suited to your charitable objectives, provide clear proposals and applications outlining the outcomes of your donation, along with the costs for the project.

We can provide you with reports and feedback on the difference your gift has made to our charity.

You are very welcome to visit the MS Therapy Centre and speak to our members, Trustees, volunteers and staff about the work we do and the benefits it provides. 

Please get in touch

Please email Swarupa Vaingankar, our Trusts and Foundations Fundraiser today or call us for an informal chat.

Email: trusts@mscentrebedsandnorthants.com
Call: 01234 325781

Latest funding news

Read all about the ways Trusts and Foundations have been supporting our charity.