TNT fundraisers eye up new technology

Charity fundraisers from Oxfordshire's leading express delivery company had an eye-opening experience when they witnessed how the funds they generate are used to help disadvantaged youngsters in Oxfordshire and beyond.

Employees from Milton-based TNT Express Services came face-to-face with new eye-guided communication technology during a fact-finding visit to the ACE Centre Advisory Trust.

The ACE Centre’s building – located in the grounds of Oxford’s Nuffield Hospital – was partly funded by a £300,000 donation by Wooden Spoon - a children’s charity that focuses on helping youngsters who are disadvantaged mentally, physically and socially. Wooden Spoon is able to support worthy causes such as ACE thanks to TNT Express Services who are the charity’s biggest benefactor having generated more than £2.5million to date.

Led by Jamie Mitchell, General Manager at the TNT depot in Milton Park, Abingdon, the TNT delegation were given a fascinating insight into technology that enables children with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, head injury and stroke to communicate, access education, interact with family friends and peers via technology many take for granted such as emails, facebook and mobile phones, which would otherwise not be accessible to them.

Jamie and members of his team were highly impressed with the technology and the wonderful work undertaken by ACE.

He said: "As the biggest contributor to Wooden Spoon it is enormously gratifying to know that TNT is having such a profound and positive impact helping improve the lives of literally tens of thousands of disadvantaged children and young people. The Milton depot plays a full part in the company’s support for Spoon and it is very rewarding to see our donations being put to such great effect in Oxfordshire."

Lena Curtis, Fundraising Manager of the ACE Centre said Wooden Spoon and TNT had played an important role in helping ACE develop by providing them with the space to grow into a nationally recognised centre of excellence.

"Our Centre reaches out to many children and families whose lives can be improved by harnessing the skills of our people and developing technologies. We were delighted to play host to the visitors from TNT and Wooden Spoon and show them how their support has underpinned all that we do in helping children both locally and across the UK."

The visit was part of a nationwide initiative being run by Wooden Spoon and TNT entitled ‘Seeing Is Believing’ - a programme that has so far enabled up to 2,000 TNT employees to take time off during the working day to witness, first hand, how the money they generate is used by Spoon.

Pictured below (left to right): Jamie Mitchell (TNT General Manager, Milton & Reading), Mike Francis (from Stradbroke - Wooden Spoon representative), Nicky Bastow (TNT), Helen Moore (TNT), Jo Lovelock (TNT), Saida Akram (TNT), Simon Madge (TNT), Shirley Carter (TNT), Rachel Moore (speech and language therapist from the ACE Centre).

Last updated: 27/02/09