Here at the Oxfordshire Guardian we are calling on our readers to help us choose our Charity of the Year for 2016 by voting for who we should support – from a list of six shortlisted charities.
We will be holding an online and postal vote from today until Thursday, March 31, for you to have your say on which charity we should back for the rest of the year.
Oxfordshire has no shortage of admirable and inspiring charities, so narrowing the list down to just six was a tough task in itself.
So now we pass the baton over to you, our readers, for the near-impossible task of picking just one to become Oxfordshire Guardian’s Charity of the Year 2016.
Your choice can be based on anything; from personal experiences or friends’ experiences, to liking the sound of the work they do.
Managing director of the Oxfordshire Guardian, Howard Taylor, said: “It is not an easy choice as all of them carry out commendable work for a variety of good causes in our area.
“You may know someone who relies upon one of the charities and therefore we encourage you to show your support by voting for them.”
These charities help thousands of people across Oxfordshire and beyond in countless ways.
This is your chance to show your appreciation and support for these fantastic organisations and the people who rely on them.
Mr Taylor added: “We will work with them by promoting awareness of the charitable work they do and by supporting future events.”
The winning charity will be announced the week after voting closes.
Voting is now closed
Once you have voted, feel free to comment below about who you voted for and why.
The six shortlisted charities
1. Blue Skye Thinking
Based: Abingdon
Founders: Andrew and Sally Hall
“We’re raising money to fund research into new treatments so all children diagnosed with brain tumours have a better chance of survival and a better quality of life post-treatment”
2. Footsteps Foundation
Based: Dorchester on Thames
Founder: Pip Hoyer
“Footsteps Foundation enables disabled children to access life-changing intensive physiotherapy. Families come from all over the UK to the Footsteps Centre in Oxfordshire”
3. Oxfordshire Mind
Based: Oxford
Chief executive: Patrick Taylor
“Oxfordshire Mind are a mental health charity. We’re here to make sure that anyone with a mental health problem has somewhere to turn for advice and support”
4. Helen and Douglas House
Based: Oxford
CEO: Clare Periton
“We provide medical, emotional and practical support, helping families deal with the implications of living with a child who will die prematurely”
Helen and Douglas House website
5. Aspire
Based: Oxford
Chief operating officers: Paul Roberts and Ian Adshead
“We give hope and opportunity to Oxfordshire’s most vulnerable people. We help homeless and disadvantaged people into work and protect elderly people from isolation”
6. Special Effect
Based: Charlbury
CEO: Mick Donegan
“We’re transforming the lives of people with disabilities by providing technology and support that lets everyone benefit from the fun, friendship and inclusion entertainment and leisure technology brings.”
I was so excited and honoured to see Blue Skye Thinking has been nominated for the Oxfordshire’s Guardian’s Charity of the Year Award, then I saw the other nominations and wanted them all to win! We hope Blue Skye Thinking will continue to fund much needed research into childhood brain tumours for year to come but as a Charity, this year will have been the most significant for us. It is the year we have had to go it alone without Skye here in person driving us. In his own words “Help doctors make other children better, even though they can’t help me” will stay with us all forever. That will be our driving force! Thank you all for your continued support. Sally Hall (Skye’s mum)
My beautiful niece Jessica and her Mum Vic and her Dad Keith, are given such wonderful support from Helen House, they do an amazing job and are a very deserving charity.
I voted for Blue Skye Thinking as Skye was my nephew. By supporting Blue Skye Thinking, you will be helping to fund much needed research into the safe and effective treatment of childhood brain tumours. Children should not be dying of the side effects of treatment. I know that Andrew and Sally appreciate all the support that the charity gets.
What a difficult choice – such wonderful charities. I have voted for BlueSkyeThinking as I have read in the Times just today about the lack of funding for research into brain tumours. Andrew, Sally and their team are all volunteers who work so hard to try to make a difference.