News

Here at the Foundation, we are always delighted, excited and extremely grateful when we get the opportunity to partner and work with new companies. Our most recent addition is Totally Wicked – The World’s premier vaping retailer.

Totally Wicked is one of the leading vape companies in the UK. Founded in 2008, they are one of the nation’s longest standing vape companies and have led the way not only with vape technology, but vape standards and vapers’ rights. They also have an expert Totally Wicked team which is now 360 people strong and growing!

Their History

Back in 2008, many years before the term vaping had become commonplace, Jason Cropper a long-term smoker became aware of a new product concept called ‘the electronic cigarette’. Jason began his very personal journey of creating a business, and enlightening as many people as possible to the potential associated with such a transformative product.

To deliver on Jason’s ambitions, he realised that he needed to create not only a leading product, but a brand, a persona, and a personality that would represent everything that this business would stand for. With a subtle irony, Totally Wicked was born, and ‘Mr Wicked’ was the persona or character that would bring the personality of this amazing brand to life. At the same time, Jason created a mission statement that embodied a simple set of promises that would define the actions and responsibilities of the business from then up to present day, which you will find in every office and store carrying the Totally Wicked name.

In 2011 Fraser Cropper, Jason’s brother joined him to continue the Totally Wicked crusade, and from these early years Totally Wicked has continued to lead the industry that followed, and has specifically ‘empowered smokers to transform their lives’ with the world premier vaping products carrying this iconic name.

Chairman Fraser Cropper had this to say:

“On first meeting Andy and listening to his journey and his outlook on life, I was struck deeply by his resilience and tenacity to drive his post injury life to his own agenda.  Beyond Andy’s incredible mental strength, he has deep compassion for others who need support.

This is not only injured ex-servicemen, but also anyone that may require help and assistance that perhaps is not readily available.  This would be a commendable attribute for most people, but in Andy’s case, given his experiences and his permanently carried injuries, it is a remarkable deeply possessed selflessness.

I am very proud to welcome Andy to our team and the potential Totally Wicked and Andy can harness to bring positive change.”

Our Co-Founder Andy Reid MBE had this to say about the partnership:

“It was fantastic to bump into Fraser at the Totally Wicked Stadium, after being a brand ambassador for Totally Wicked for a number of years. I told Fraser about the Foundation and the work we do, and straight away he was keen to get involved as a partner and support the work we do with people’s health and well-being.”

We would just like to say a massive THANK YOU again to everybody that attended our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Garden Party on Saturday 4th June. It was a roaring success, and we raised vital funds for the Foundation and Willowbrook Hospice in the process so we are extremely grateful. This will allow us to continue to provide our much needed Mental Health and Addiction Support Counselling services to the Community and beyond.

The event would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication from the team, but also the help of the wonderful volunteers from Willowbrook Hospice and also our friends and family who all pitched in and ensured the day ran smoothly.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to all the other companies and organisations involved, who not only provided services, but also amazing entertainment for our guests!

These were:

Miguel Doforo & MD Creatives, Cinema Bar, St. Helens Classic Car Show, Ultimate Party People, Cannington Shaw Preservation Trust CIC, West Lancashire Freemasons, Widows Sons Bikers Chapter, St. Helens Sea Cadets, Army Cadets, World Heritage Bid 2029, St. Helens Police, St. Helens Fire Brigade, Tom Loughlin, Rainford Ladies Football Club, North West Museum of Road Transport, Tony the Photographer, Cameron Jones and Will.

HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DAY!

It’s been another fantastic and rewarding month here at the Foundation, and we cannot thank our Partners enough for the continued support they have shown. This enables us to deliver our Counselling and Addiction support services, as well as helping people on a group and individual level via our own initiatives, as well as the help we receive from partners.

We are therefore delighted to announce that we have gained 2 more partners in the last month to add to our Foundation Partner stable.

Bates Office Limited

Bates are committed to providing Business Supplies and Services to your company.  Their partnership approach provides you with advice and support on ways to reduce your costs and work more productively. More interestingly, they pride themselves in their sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives which is part of their heritage.

This Partnership presents an exciting opportunity for the Foundation moving forward, as a percentage of any client’s overall company spend with Bates, will potentially go directly to The Standing Tall Foundation as part of their Social Corporate Responsibility.

You can read more about this in the full story HERE.

Allisons

Allisons, are independent Financial Planners and Mortgage Specialists. Based in St. Helens, Allisons was set up in 2004 by Founder and CEO Allie Baglow. It has since gone from strength to strength, which was acknowledged by Allie winning Entrepreneur of the year at the 2021 St. Helens Borough Business Awards.

You can read the full story about the Partnership HERE.

We are delighted to have you all on board and looking forward to working together from now on!

If you are interested in becoming a Foundation Partner, please contact our CEO and Co-Founder John Tabern.

john@thestandingtallfoundation.org.uk

You can find out more about our current partners HERE

It’s been a busy and productive month here at STF, and we are very grateful for the support we have received from local businesses. 

One of these, and the latest partner to join the Standing Tall Foundation stable, is Allisons Financial. Based in St. Helens, Allisons was set up in 2004 by Founder and CEO Allie Baglow. It has since gone from strength to strength, which was acknowledged by Allie winning Entrepreneur of the year at the 2021 St. Helens Borough Business Awards.

Allisons pride themselves on their key core values and over the years, have built a reputation on providing impartial honest advice. They specialise in helping you manage your money and navigate the many options which can prove to be very stressful for people.

Allie Baglow, Founder & CEO says:

“Allisons is proud to be supporting the Standing Tall Foundation. At Allisons, we care about our clients’ future and love being able to help them navigate through the financial maze, working together in a partnership.  Supporting this local charity will enable us to offer our services to more people and support the wider community.”

We welcome Allie and the team to the Foundation and thank them for their support. We look forward to working together in the future, and combining our expertise to help those in financial hardship, or those affected with mental health issues as a result of this.

Here at STF, our key aim is to promote the mental and physical health of all community groups, which we further extend to those in financial hardship via the provision of grants, resources or services made available to us.

It has therefore been incredibly busy at the Foundation in the last few months, as we have not only been helping community groups via various initiatives and group sessions, but also people on an individual basis who have found themselves in need.

Here are some of the highlights from the last month:

Mental Health Support

Throughout April, The Standing Tall Foundation has worked with over twenty people, offering Counselling support.

People have presented with a wide range of issues, including Bereavement, Relationships, Work stress, Anxiety and Confidence Building.

Our Counsellor Phil is currently working with a twenty-one year old man, who has struggled with Depression for years. Counselling has encouraged him to challenge his negative thoughts and beliefs, and by practising mind management techniques, he says “that he is feeling far more confident”. Having returned to work recently, he is now involved in community activities including taking part in a local film making project. He has told other people about his own positive experience of counselling, and this has resulted in several new referrals for the Foundation.

Please do get in touch with our team if you, or anyone you know is struggling with their Mental Health. Our qualified Counsellor Phil Parr is available, and will get back to you within 24 hours to arrange a free consultation.

Please email:  phil@standingtallfoundation.org.uk

Nottingham Forest Under 18’s Football Team

At the end of April, we were delighted to be paid a visit from the under 18 players at Nottingham Forest. Our Chairman Andy Reid MBE delivered a Motivational talk to them about the importance of goal setting and resilience.

Andy says: “It was absolutely fantastic to deliver my motivational talk to the young players. Hopefully they can take some of my messages away and implement them into their personal lives and future football careers.”

The importance of Stress Management in the Workplace

April was Stress Awareness Month, and here at the Foundation we really understand the importance of this, and how it can affect your daily life if not managed correctly.

We met up with our friends at Bright HR, and as part of his Ambassadorship, Andy filmed a podcast video to highlight how stress in the workplace is not always conducive to a productive work environment. He shared his suggestions for alleviating stress, and just how vital it is to reach out to others and ask for help.

You can view the full video HERE

We are absolutely ecstatic to announce that our very own Co-Founder and Chairman Andy Reid MBE has been chosen to be a Baton Bearer for the North West region in the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay. This will take place on the 17^th July, ahead of the launch of the Commonwealth Games this summer.

Baton bearers have been selected in all nine regions of England. It’s part of the build-up to the Games which start on the 28 July in Birmingham. The baton will first arrive in London on 2 June for a four-day celebration before resuming the epic journey around England.

How were the Batonbearers chosen?

8,000 nominations were submitted during public nomination campaign in January 2022.

The nominees had to hit certain criteria, including that they:

• Are always willing to take on a challenge and has a unique and inspiring story
• Have made a meaningful contribution to sport, education, the arts, culture, or charity
• Are a figure of inspiration that positively challenges others to achieve their best
• Have taken on a challenge or cause and made a positive impact within their community

Since October 2021, the Baton has been travelling across the entire Commonwealth, travelling through Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas, where over 7,500 Batonbearers have passed the Baton between communities.

When will the Queen’s Baton reach my area?

• London: Thursday 2 June – Monday 6 June
• South West: Monday 4 July – Tuesday 5 July
• South East: Wednesday 6 July – Thursday 7 July
• East of England: Friday 8 July – Saturday 9 July
• East Midlands: Sunday 10 July – Monday 11 July
• Yorkshire & The Humber: Tuesday 12 July – Wednesday 13 July
• North East: Thursday 14 July – Friday 15 July
• North West: Saturday 16 July – Sunday 17 July
• West Midlands: Monday 18 July – Thursday 28 July

Massive congratulations to Andy for being selected for this prestigious event and we look forward to the 17^th July when it comes to the North West!!

The Commonwealth Games 2022 will begin at The Alexandra Stadium in Birmingham on the 28^th July. 286 games will be played over 11 days, right across the Midlands.

We are delighted to announce that Bates Office Limited UK National supplier for Office supplies/Interiors/Print Management/Workplace/Workwear PPE & Uniform , Private & Public Sector have joined the Foundation as our latest Corporate Partner.

Bates are committed to providing Business Supplies and Services to your company.  Their partnership approach provides you with advice and support on ways to reduce your costs and work more productively. More interestingly, they pride themselves in their sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives which is part of their heritage.

Their Corporate Social Responsibility strategy is a holistic, integrated approach to building robust long-term strategies and deliver social, environmental, and economic benefits through meaningful engagement with all stakeholders; their staff, customers, suppliers, third party organisations and the wider community.

This is an exciting opportunity for the Foundation, as a percentage of any client’s overall company spend with Bates going forward, will potentially go directly to The Standing Tall Foundation as part of their Social Corporate Responsibility.

One of our partners has recently started work with Bates, and signed up to the initiative which in turn, will generate in excess of £10k for the Foundation. This will be used to provide Mental Health Counselling and Addiction Support Services, as well as helping people on a group and individual level.

If you would like to find out more about Bates or being a part of this exciting initiative, please contact:

Rob Nevins

National Development Manager

Mob: 07999 020467

rob.nevins@batesoffice.co.uk

www.batesoffice.co.uk

We are extremely proud to announce that The Standing Tall Foundation has been awarded The Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Award. This is in national recognition of our commitment to the Armed Forces.

The Armed Forces Covenant supports those who have or do proudly protect our nation, who do so with honour, courage, and commitment.

They acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives.

The covenant focuses on helping members of the armed forces community have the same access to government and commercial services and products as any other citizen.

This support is provided in a number of areas including:

• Education and family well-being
• Having a home
• Starting a new career
• Access to healthcare
• Financial assistance
• Discounted services

We are passionate about working alongside them, and delivering the services as a Foundation that we do, to further help Servicemen or Ex-servicemen in the community and surrounding areas.

Here at STF, our key aim is to promote the mental and physical health of all community groups, which we further extend to those in financial hardship via the provision of grants, resources or services made available to us.

It has therefore been incredibly busy at the Foundation in the last few months, as we have not only been helping community groups via various initiatives and group sessions, but also people on an individual basis who have found themselves in need.

Here are some of the highlights from the last month:

KB

Ex-serviceman Kabelo Moeletsi, former infantry, 3^rd Battalion, Yorkshire reached out to our Chairman of the Foundation Andy, who he served with in Afghanistan, when he found himself in a very difficult situation. He was struggling to find work, and currently sofa surfing in Bristol. Within hours, he was on a train to St. Helens and Andy had found him somewhere to live with the help of one of our Foundation Partners – Cosey Rentals.

Through his close working partnership with Menzies Distribution, Andy was able to liaise with Fleet & Engineering Manager, Anthony Roe, who Andy had served with in Northern Ireland. Their combined understanding of the needs of veterans enabled them to find Kabelo the right role and put support in place.

The following morning, Kabelo went for an interview at Menzies, and we are delighted to report that he not only got the job, but is also now successfully training as a shunter driver at their Ellesmere Port depot.

As Andy says “Veterans don’t need a handout! What they need is a hand up onto the employment and housing ladder and to feel VALUED.”

WALK FOR WELLNESS

At the start of March, we launched our “Walk for Wellness” initiative, led every Thursday, by our physical and wellbeing coach Terry Bates.

The walks are designed to allow you to escape from the everyday stresses of life and dedicate some time to YOU.

These sessions allow you to walk and talk, therefore improving your mental wellbeing, as well as getting you fitter in the process! They are walking routes that explore the local nature in St. Helens, helping you to feel more in touch with the world around you and guaranteed to boost your emotional health.

You can find out more here.

HEALTH, WELLBEING & RESILIENCE BUILDING SCHOOL INITIATIVE

Our Physical Health and Wellbeing Coach, Terry Bates recently delivered a highly successful training course in Health, Wellbeing & Resilience Building to the Year 5 pupils at St. Bartholomew’s Primary School in Rainhill.

The main aim of the programme was to build confidence and mental strength using a range of teaching and facilitating methods. Children’s Health can be affected by many situations and experiences. This course was aimed at developing confidence, a stronger mindset and self – awareness towards the many areas of an individual’s health and wellbeing. The aim was to build pupil resilience for improvement and prepare them to become the best version of themselves.

Our Chairman Andy Reid MBE also contributed to the course by delivering a brilliant introduction on dealing with adversity and Developing Mental Toughness.

We are currently seeking funding in order to be able to roll this fantastic initiative out to more schools in St. Helens and the surrounding areas.

You can find out more here.

It’s been a fantastic and rewarding month here at the Foundation, and we cannot thank our Partners enough for the continued support they have shown. This enables us to deliver our Counselling and addiction support services, as well as helping people on a group and individual level.

We are excited to announce that we have gained 3 new partners in the last month to add to our Foundation Partner stable.

Holland Alexander

Holland Alexander have been creating high-end events, production and audience campaigns since 2005. As well as an impressive International client portfolio, they also create fantastic digital events for awards ceremonies, unique packages and business conferencing.

After meeting Andy as a guest speaker at one of their live events in 2021, they were inspired by his story, how much he has achieved, and his mission to help others. They were delighted when Andy reached out to them to work with us on producing future events for the Foundation.

 Andy Reid MBE said: “I first met Holland Alexander when I was booked as a speaker for a corporate event in Leeds. I arrived the night before the event and was met by Louise and fully briefed on next day’s plan even though it was clear Louise was extremely busy, she took the time to do that which I thought was very professional, and the next day the event was amazing and nothing was took much trouble. So when it came to planning my own event it was a no brainier to contact them. Myself and everyone at the Standing Tall foundation are delighted to have them as a foundation partner and very much look forward to working with them on future events.”

We are ecstatic that Holland Alexander have proudly announced the Standing Tall Foundation as their Charity of the Year 2022.

You can read the full story here.

Chorley Group

Founded as a family business back in 1989, Chorley Group has grown into an award winning organisation operating internationally with six key dealerships and four franchises across the North-West of England in Lancashire/Greater Manchester.

Chorley Group Chairman/Founder Andrew Turner began trading in 1989 as Bugle Inn Motor Co with a firm commitment to develop a reliable family business brand in the North West England. Over 30 years on, Chorley Group now operate some of the world’s largest motor franchises.

Andrew says “Our family ethic and values set us apart from our competitors. We are founded on and remain focused on the principle that no matter what we will be, “Big enough to cope…but Small enough to care”.

Steve Caunce

Originally formed in 1985 as a partnership by Steve and Lynn Caunce, after facing redundancy for the fourth time, they decided to go it alone. Purchasing one van and a jetting machine they worked from their dining room at home. The business has expanded and moved three times over the years, each time to a bigger premises and started trading as a Limited company in 1999.

Steve Caunce Limited are Environmental, Industrial Drainage and Pump Specialists with over 30 years’ experience in the industry and a large portfolio of Blue Chip clients.

We are delighted to have you all on board and looking forward to working together from now on!

If you are interested in becoming a Foundation Partner, please contact our CEO and Co-Founder John Tabern.

john@thestandingtallfoundation.org.uk

You can find out more about our current partners here