Bill’s Fund
Bill's Fund was set up after the death of one of Walsingham Support’s directors, Bill McLaughlin, in 2002. It helps pay for the things that most people take for granted but might be just out of reach for the individuals we support.
Anybody we support can make an application to Bill’s Fund. If an application is successful, money can be used for a wide variety of purposes – to pay for trips, buy equipment, or take part in activities, for example.
In the past, we have funded purchases and projects as varied as sensory equipment for a garden, a karaoke machine for a living room and self-advocacy training to enable people with disabilities to express themselves with confidence.
In 2015, money from Bill’s Fund was used to buy a caravan on the picturesque Cumbrian coast, to enable people we support to enjoy an affordable holiday or weekend break in a beautiful setting. You can find out more about Bill’s caravan here.
About Bill
Bill had built up a successful career in health services before joining Walsingham Support in the newly created role of Care and Development Director in February 1990. He was a perfect fit for the charity, bringing expertise in health and social care and a passion for enhancing quality of life for people with learning disabilities.
He came on board at a crucial time; support had historically been provided by health services and adult social care, and was undergoing a shift towards being provided by charities like ours. Bill used his combination of skills and experience to guide Walsingham Support through this transition and helped us to connect with other service providers.
Bill also set up some of the organisational footprint that we still have in place: he was particularly pivotal in developing services in Hertfordshire, Cumbria and south London.
He worked at Walsingham Support until he passed away in January 2002.
Setting Up Bill's Fund
At Bill’s funeral, there was a collection of donations for Walsingham Support. Around £3,000 was raised, and together with Bill’s wife Mabel, we wanted to make sure it would all be used in a way that was befitting of Bill’s memory, going directly to people we support.
Rather than funding day-to-day essentials, it was important that the money would be used to really enhance people’s lives. To that end, Bill’s Fund was born.
Bill’s legacy
Many years on, Bill’s Fund continues to help to improve the lives of the people we support in an innovative way.
Crucially, it stays true to Walsingham Support’s values – putting people we support at the heart of everything we do. Those individuals choose what they want to use the fund for, and help decide how the money is ultimately spent.
Bill’s Fund is a fantastic resource for Walsingham Support and the people who use our services, and a perfect way to commemorate Bill’s life and achievements.
For many people, Bill was instrumental in helping them to move from long-stay hospitals into community-based settings. Through Bill’s Fund, he is still championing their right to live a happy and fulfilling life to this day.
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For individuals whose income is restricted by a disability, enjoying the simple things that most of us take for granted can be just out of reach. Not viewed as a necessity, these things frequently fall outside of an individual’s assessed funding and…
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