The Bacta Charitable Trust (BCT) has broadened its reach to help fund a range of local charities and not for profit organisations all of which have been nominated by their constituency MP.
Working in partnership with parliamentarians representing constituencies in Blackpool, Gosport, Grimsby, Southend, Southport and Swansea, Bacta Charitable Trust Chairman, John Bollom has made presentations to representatives from a diverse range of organisations comprising Southend Against ModernSlavery, Hub4Stuff, Ospreys in the Community, Stand Together and Recover, The Sunflowers Children’s Action Group and Friends of King’s Gardens, Southport.
Explaining the programme of support, John Bollom noted: “We contacted MPs in constituencies where there’s a strong Bacta presence and asked them to nominate organisations that do outstanding work in the community. The awards that we’ve made have all been gratefully received, the presentations have taken place at Bacta member venues and they’ve been attended by the nominating MPs.”
Focussing on the broader contributions made by Bacta and its members he noted: “Our industry has a proud history of standing alongside charities, both large and small. With the third sector under acute financial pressure as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and the subsequent decline in public donations, it’s vital that we keep generating the funds that enable organisations to carry on delivering what in many cases represents essential support.”
He confirmed: “Over the past 30-years, the Trust has worked alongside a broad spectrum of charitable organisations as well as backing the fundraising of individual Bacta members, often supporting deeply personal causes that hold special meaning for them.
“Our long-standing support of Rays of Sunshine (RoS), has generated circa £900,000 for the charity which grants magical wishes to seriously ill children. My aim as Chairman of the Bacta Charitable Trust is to celebrate the landmark figure of £1m at January’s EAG Expo.
Caroline Dinenage MP for Gosport: Hub4Stuff
Chris Webb MP for Blackpool South: STAR (Stand Up and Recover)
Table of Awards
Bayo Alaba MP for Southend East and Rochford: Southend Against Modern Slavery
Southend Against Modern Slavery comprises approximately 30 local charities, faith organisations and voluntary sector bodies, working with law enforcement and statutory partners to combat exploitation and human trafficking in Southend-on-Sea. It provides community-based support to adult survivors of all types of modern slavery, delivers training and awareness campaigns, and holds quarterly partnership meetings.
Caroline Dinenage MP for Gosport: Hub4Stuff
Hub4Stuff is a small community charity based in Fareham, Hampshire, tackling two linked problems: furniture poverty and household waste. It collects donated furniture and household items and redistributes them free of charge to low-income families in the Gosport and Fareham areas.
The charity accepts a wide range of items and operates a delivery van to reach those in need. It also offers volunteering opportunities to people facing barriers to employment, helping them develop skills and confidence transferable to the workplace.
The charity has been supported by National Lottery Community Fund funding. Warehouse storage is primarily provided by Haslar Developments at the Royal Haslar site.
Carolyn Harris MP for Neath and Swansea East: Ospreys in the Community
Carolyn Harris MP for Neath and Swansea East: Ospreys in the Community
Ospreys in the Community is a not-for-profit foundation that works in close partnership with Ospreys Rugby. Harnessing the power of the Ospreys and sport to make a positive difference in the community the foundation works to improve lives by working with others to create a range of programmes that sit within the three core pillars of Sport and Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing, and Education and Employability, with inclusivity being the golden thread that connects its programmes. Ospreys in the Community aims to engage with over 50,000 people a year and become an organisation that provides sustainable and enjoyable programmes throughout the Ospreys region making a positive and lasting difference to people’s lives.
Chris Webb MP for Blackpool South: STAR (Stand Up and Recover)
STAR (Stand Together and Recover) is a mental health peer support charity based in Blackpool, founded informally in February 2018 and registered as a CIO in April 2020. It provides free, open-access peer support for adults aged 18+ experiencing mental health di iculties. The charity operates a social, activity-based model designed to support recovery and reach people who may struggle to access statutory services.
Patrick Hurley MP for Southport: Friends of King’s Gardens Southport
Melanie Onn MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes: Sunflowers Children’s Action Group
Melanie Onn MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes: Sunflowers Children’s Action Group
Sunflowers Children’s Action Group is a CIO based in Grimsby, founded in November 2019 to support children aged 3-16 with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses and their families across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The charity creates inclusive events, parties, cinema trips and activities to build friendships, reduce isolation, build confidence and create lasting memories for children who might otherwise miss such experiences. It now runs over 100 sessions a year and works with 40 volunteers.
Patrick Hurley MP for Southport: Friends of King’s Gardens Southport
Friends of King’s Gardens Southport is a small community charity that works in co-operation with Sefton Council to maintain and promote the historic King’s Gardens in Southport, Merseyside, for the benefit of the public. Activities include volunteer gardening sessions, community events, guided tours, and liaising with the council on garden management. The gardens themselves received a £5.5m Heritage Lottery Fund and Sefton Council restoration; the Friends group provides ongoing community stewardship of the public space.
Main Image: Bayo Alaba MP for Southend East and Rochford: Southend Against Modern Slavery
Originally published on Coinslot on June 8, 2026. Republished with permission.