Local charity Martha Trust have been honoured as ‘Charity of the Year’ at the 2007 Channel Chamber Business of the Year Awards. The announcement was made during the awards dinner held for 250 guests at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone on Friday.

Martha Trust community fundraiser, Mickele Cordes spotted the opportunity to enter the awards during a Channel Chamber event. After the initial application was completed, three judges visited the Martha Trust site near Deal and interviewed Director of Operations, Emily Shepherd and Director of Resources, Judy Heath.

Staff were informed in March that they had reached the finals, but had to wait for the awards dinner last week, to find out if they had scooped an award.

Martha Trust opened its first residential home for people with profound and multiple disabilities 20 years ago, and has since grown to include 2 homes and a daycare centre near Deal, and last year openend a new home in Hastings, East Sussex. The charity offers a loving home for life and a family approach to living which enables individuals to enjoy many opportunities and reach their full potential. Martha Trust joined the Channel Chamber three years ago, and have benefitted from the support, training and networking provided.

Staff are absolutely delighted to win the ‘Charity of the Year’ award. Chief Executive, Graham Simmons, who has led the charity for 10 years said: “This award recognises the high standards achieved in every part of our organisation from the care we provide, through to fundraising and all aspects of how the organisation is run.” He continued: “We employ a fantastic team of staff, and this award recognises their hard work and commitment.”

Martha Trust relies on public support and donations

Additional info:
Martha Trust provides a home for life for people with profound physical and learning disabilities. The homes provide first class care, with excellent facilities; the homes do not feel like institutions.

Martha Trust is a Christian based charity which was founded in 1983. It has grown slowly over the last 2 decades and now runs 3 homes and a daycares centre. Frances House a home for 5 young people and Martha House, home to 12 adults are situated near Deal – a respite and day care is also offered from Deal, helping around 30 families a year. Last year Martha Trust opened Mary House in Hastings, and Trustees are planning to extend the home in 2008.

There is a shortage of high quality settings for people with severe and multiple disabilities across the UK. There are long waiting lists for all Martha Trust homes. Although Martha Trust receives basic funding through Social Services, the Trust does need to fundraise for all capital costs of new homes and also needs to raise approximately £250,000 each year to maintain the high standards in each home.

Martha Trust has belonged to the Channel Chamber for two years, and have found the support and networking offered through the Chamber most useful.