A HUDDERSFIELD charity founded by a war hero is appealing for volunteers.
When it first opened its doors in 1966, Beechwood Cheshire Home had a legion of loyal supporters in the community.
Support groups were formed to raise funds and people turned out in their hundreds to support the many large-scale events staged in aid of the disability charity.
Today, the groups have disbanded and the Edgerton-based charity–run by Leonard Cheshire Disability– is in desperate need of funds.
Beechwood Cheshire Home provides residential day services and respite care for adults aged 18-65 suffering from severe physical disabilities.
The charity was founded by Leonard Cheshire in the aftermath of World War Two.
The war hero, who carried out 100 bombing missions and was awarded the Victoria Cross, was distressed by the devastating effects of war and made it his future mission to work for peace.
At the beginning of 1948 he was living alone in an isolated mansion in Hampshire, winding up a community project for ex-servicemen and women.
Discovering that a member of the community was terminally ill, he offered to care for him in his own home.
Others were soon coming to him for help, so he started what was to become a pioneering worldwide organisation, developing services for disabled people.
The 1960s saw a period of rapid expansion with homes up and down the country and the Bryan Road home was formed by a volunteer management committee who realised there was a need for a Cheshire Home in Huddersfield.
Funding came from other branches of the charity in West Yorkshire, but there was nothing left over for equipment or luxuries, so people in the community volunteered to help.
Support groups sprang up to fundraise and groups, from local Scouts to Round Table and Rotary clubs, staged everything from garden parties to social evenings.
In 1967 over 2,000 people took part in a sponsored marathon, raising £12,000 towards the home’s new wing.
But as those driving the fundraisers aged and retired, support groups folded and public backing faded away.
Volunteer co-ordinator Ann-Marie Brook said: “When Beechwood Cheshire started it was the only charity in Huddersfield and there was a massive support for it and fundraisers were a big community affair.
“But as people running the support groups got older and the next generation was unaware of Leonard Cheshire, fundraisers dried up and now very few people know we are here.
“Now it feels like we are having to start from scratch all over again, to get the message across that we are a charity for local people and we really do need the community’s support.
“We need to get that awareness across to this generation and see if we can rebuild some of the volunteer groups and fundraisers.”
The charity’s homes and qualified staff are government funded, but money for all other extras– from wheelchairs and special beds to kitchen and computer equipment– needs to be raised elsewhere.
In a bid to rekindle community support, staff are now busy drumming up support from local businesses.
Several, including staff from Syngenta, have rallied round to raise thousands towards the charity’s latest appeal– to buy a £28,000 specially-adapted mini bus to take residents on outings.
The charity is now setting up a new community support group to organise fundraisers.
It is also looking for volunteers to spend time with residents– from organising games and activities to accompanying them on outings.
For more information on volunteering or joining the support group, contact Ann-Marie on 07793 803958.
