Fred Foundation

Lots of things have been happening since we last communicated with you. In January we finally received our registration details from the Charity Commission, our number is 1122197. We are also registered for Gift Aid with the Tax Office. This will not begin until the start of our next fiscal year on the 10th May 2008.

As you can see we have sorted out our logo and the web site is up and running on www.thefredfoundation.org . This was organised for us by Martin Galton at no cost to the FF. The trustees are very grateful for the support he has given us in that respect and in others, as he has organised a private viewing of pictures that he has painted and the proceeds all went to the Fred Foundation.

Do please have a look at the website.  Any comments and suggestions will be gratefully received.

Our registration has led to a flood of letters from companies wishing to advise us and invest our funds! We have also had requests for help, which is distressing, as at the moment we can only fund Fred.
Our newness is an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand we are a blank sheet for a corporation to take on and use, and on the other, nobody knows who we are! For a lot of funding organisations we have to show that we have already raised funds in the order of £500,000 to be able to apply for more!  To date we have raised over £22,000.

We have been hard at work sending out letters, not only to elicit funds but also to advertise the fact that the charity exists. In particular we are looking for a corporate patron and a famous name to support us. If you know of anyone who might help us please let me know.

We have also been in contact with both the major schools for specialist teaching of autistic children in London, Rainbow and Treehouse. We hope to be working with them to raise funds, and of course eventually send children there. They have been very positive about our charity and will advertise us to their parents etc.

Now we are registered we are arranging a number of fund raising events, and I hope to be able to announce some details soon.  Charles Vallance (a trustee) has organised a leaflet about the charity and our aims, again at no costs to the charity. Many thanks to him. If you would like us to send you some copies to distribute please e mail us on hello@thefredfoundation.org .

The trustees would be very grateful if you could take the time to think how you might help the charity. Do you have children at a school that supports a charity, for instance Fred’s old school did some carol singing to raise money for us?

Would your office like to take us on as their charity? Are you running the marathon? Do you have a friend who runs a big company that might support us? Can you spare the time to organise a coffee morning, or series of lunches to raise money and advertise the charity? How about a sale?

If you think you can help, let us know, at hello@thefredfoundation.org

In the meantime Fred flourishes at his school and is starting to learn his letters. I was impressed by how much he has moved forward when I had to take him home from school a few weeks ago. What would have been a nightmare journey of screaming in terror, because Mummy wasn’t there and the car was parked in a different street to usual, AND we had to back up for a lorry that got stuck in front of us etc. was all calmly received after an explanation!

Fred has also been able to take advantage of some free Music Therapy sessions that his mother has managed to arrange out of school, which seem to be very beneficial. Over the winter he has suffered from a bad bout of sickness, which put his  ability to speak right back. What was interesting was, that when he was better, he regained all the ground that he had lost very quickly. Slowly but surely he is improving. Recently he has been taught to say ‘No’. He thinks this is very funny and uses it all the time, which has become rather wearing for the family-as you might imagine!

As I write, the very smart, clear, perspex moneyboxes, with our logo on the side have arrived at my house. If you would like to have one please let me know.

Onwards and upwards!