MORE THAN £100,000 has been awarded to a Malvern-based charity which helps families and children with special needs.
What Makes You Different Makes You Beautiful (WMYDMYB) was granted £142,238 from the Big Lottery Fund, which gives out millions of pounds from the UK’s National Lottery to good causes.
And the money will enable the Howsell Road-based charity, which was founded in 2013 by Kim Philpotts, to run smoothly for another two years, offer more support sessions and trips as well as employing four new members of staff.
Kim, who works full-time as a nurse practitioner in Stourport, stayed up as late as 4am some mornings preparing her bid and she told the Observer she got very emotional upon hearing the news her charity had been awarded the money.
“When they called me up and told me how much money we received I just burst out crying,” she said.
DEMAND
“This is a fantastic amount, however, we are still having to tirelessly fund-raise as this is restricted funding for two years only so we have to be thinking about the future all the time as demand is growing.
“I had been writing that bid for over a year and was staying up until 3am and 4am just to get it submitted.
“It relieves a huge amount of stress off my back as I’m working full-time while trying to volunteer with WMYDMYB.”
Kim set up the charity after finding out there was a lack of support networks which could help with ‘complex problems’ after her son was born with brain injuries.
And since moving the charity into the building at Howsell Road in 2015, Kim said it has gone from strength to strength.
“We wanted somewhere local to a bus stop or train station so we were close to those who needed support and ever since we moved in we have just kept growing,” she said.
“I really struggled to find a support network which could help with complex problems so that’s why I decided to set WMYDMYB up.
“Charities are a real lifeline to people and with the current cutbacks, these grants are the way forward and I feel I have proved that with the money we have received.”
The charity is not the only project in the district to have received grants from the Big Lottery Fund.
The Malvern Hills NCT, which provides information and support to parents-to-be, has been granted £8,455 while the Grimley Peace Hall Foundation was awarded £9,995 to go towards providing better catering at the hall.
Martley Parish Council was also given £10,000 to help build a skateboard track in the rural area to promote healthy and active fun.
