Buddies Bag a Bike

Well actually it was a Trike but it didn't work quite as well as a headline ;o)

After the success of the recent Foundation Rides the Up and Under Group have donated a specialist tricycle to the Cheshire Buddies through the Up and Under Foundation. This means that disabled children at Central Cheshire Buddy Scheme can now all get on their bikes while at the club.

Youngsters with the new trike

Stephanie Lawley, one of the Buddies leaders said

 ‘The bike is a fantastic gift. We have a number of young people who do not have a bike at home so when they come to club on a Saturday, in Shavington, they just love riding around the centre.  This is a great gift and we thank Up and Under for their support’..

Cheshire buddies is a voluntary community group which supports children and young people with disabilities to access a range of fun activities they would not normally have the opportunity to be involved with. 

If you would like more information about Cheshire Buddies contact Stephanie Lawley on 07873423389. Or visit www.cheshirebuddies.co.uk

Foundation Rides, a Great Success

On Sunday a hundred riders set out, bathed in sunshine, to enjoy a cycle ride around the Cheshire lanes to raise money to improve the lives of local youngsters.  The inaugural Foundation Rides were organised by, civil engineering and safety trainers, the Up and Under Group. On offer were two challenging events; a 50km ride taking in Audlem, Wrenbury and Nantwich and a tougher route that continued to Malpas before heading over the Bickerton Hills.

The event was set up to raise money for the Up and Under Foundation which so far this year has supported two weekend trips away for young carers and the Cheshire Buddies as well as helping several other youngsters with the costs of school trips and scout camps.  It is estimated that the money raised at the weekend will support a further 15-20 children.

The Charity, whose mission is to “Change Lives Through Adventure”, was definitely supported by people with their own spirit of adventure.  Amongst the riders was a 9 year old who completed the 50km route before many of the adults returned, a 14 year old Scout who rode the hilly 100km circuit and our oldest rider was 82 years young, surely a great advert for cycling.

These events always attract their share of memorable moments and this was no exception with people blinking their eyes in surprise when Postman Pat rode past on his postie bike complete with black and white cat!  We think that Simon Walker was involved here somewhere.

The 100km ride start

Tea and conversation at the end

Dave is greeted by Sue at the Checkpoint

Postman Pat mounts up

Nervous conversation at the start of the 50km ride

Refreshments part way round the Foundation Ride

How hard can this cycling lark be ;o)

The event will take place next in early June next year so you have time to get some training done.  A big thank you must go to our supporters, Asda, Chatwins, CREH, Marks and Spencer, Mornflake & the staff and friends of Up and Under.

A busy weekend to come

On Sunday we will be running our first fund raising cycle event " The Foundation Rides"  More than 100 people will leave our offices after a Mornflake Porridge breakfast to enjoy the beauty of Cheshire's quiet lanes on a variety of bikes.

 We will have a celebrity guest in the form of Pastman Pat, who bravely has entered the challenging 100km ride, so give him lots of support.

Give pat a cheer along the way

The money raised from this event will be used to give opportunities to less well off youngster to participate in activities and adventures through the Up and Under Foundation.

Youngsters enjoying a recent trip to the Conway Centre

We have had lots of local support in addition to that given by our staff, including from Mornflake, Chatwins, Marks and Spencer, Asda and JLT Insurance Brokers.

Reward for riding - a view on the "Good Stuff"

If you fancy enhancing your wardrobe we will have a draw to win one of three Rapha Condor team t shirts.

The rides start at 9am at our offices with riders returning from about noon.  There will be a party atmosphere at the office throughout the day and all are welcome to drop by.

It is not all about engineering here at Up and Under, we need to make money, but we will do good stuff with it!

Friday Smile - Up and Under Care

Last weekend staff from Up and Under took a group of young carers to the Conway Centre on Anglesey for a special weekend away.

Funded by the Up and Under Foundation, 12 excited youngsters headed off in a minibus, driven by our MD Andy Fewtrell, for a weekend of adventure.

Teamwork to overcome obstacles

Gaining confidence

Flying now!

The youngsters aged between 8 and 15 had a programme that included rope courses through the trees, canoeing on the Menai Straits, night time trail finding, camp fires, bush craft and climbing.

How to safely light a fire

On Sunday evening they climbed back into the bus ready to travel home and regale friends and family with tales of their adventures.

Toasting Marshmallows

You may not be aware, but 0.5% of all the turnover (not profit) from our operating companies is donated to the Up and Under Foundation.  In addition all of the admin costs of the charity, including insurance costs, IT, vehicles, etc, are met by Up and Under; plus they support fund raising activities and provide volunteers.

So every job you give us helps young people.

Charity Bike Ride Entries Close Soon!

Entries for the Foundation Rides closes on 29th May, so don't delay.  We will close the entry earlier if we meet our full quota of 250.

This is a great way to give yourself a fitness challenge while helping others.

All money raised by the event will go to support less well of youngsters through the Up and Under Foundation.

For details and entry visit www.foundationrides.co.uk

Thanks for your support.

Awards Again and Further Foundation Activity

We have been notified that we have been shortlisted for a Local Impact Award in the Business in the Community Awards 2013 for the North West.

We are delighted that our efforts are being recognised in these prestigious awards.

We will have to wait to see if we have won when the results are announced at a prestigious ceremony in Manchester on 13th June.

And just to keep us busy we will be taking 13 young carers away for a weekend in Anglesey.  These youngsters are really impressive people.  With ages ranging from 8 up to 16 they care for ill or disabled parents or siblings.  We hope that they all really enjoy their weekend break.

Foundation Rides - 9th June

ENTER NOW

Up and Under will be organising two bike rides to raise funds for the Up and Under Foundation on Sunday 9th June.  The money raised will be used to support more activities for disadvantaged young people.

There are two distances so you can pick the challenge that fits your ability.  The Foundation Ride is a pleasant 50 km circuit taking in a popular cyclist cafe in Audlem and the historic town of Nantwich.  The Good Stuff Ride is a tougher prospect including some of the lumpier parts of Cheshire, not forgetting an opportunity to stop at the Ice Cream Farm Cafe for a well earned breather.

We have limited the number of entries for these two events to 250 and places are filling up fast.  So to enter go to www.foundationrides.co.uk. Entry fees are far lower than most of the sportive rides and the profit from this event go to benefit young people in need.

And it gets better - we have support from two, local, leading names in good food.  Mornflake will be providing the porridge for breakfast at the start of the ride and Chatwins will be supplying the buns for after the ride.

ENTER NOW

High Sheriff's Awards - Video

This video was prepared for the Awards dinner and was shown prior to us receiving our prize, we love it, see what you think ;o

Foundation Support for Buddies

A group of disabled youngsters enjoyed a weekend of adventure in the Lake District as a result of a significant grant from the Up and Under Foundation. The youngsters are all part of the Cheshire Buddies, which is a voluntary community group which supports children and young people with disabilities to access a range of activities which they would not normally have the opportunity to be involved with.



Stephanie Lawley, one of the group leaders said:

“They have all had a fantastic time and the trip has meant a great deal to them and their parents. The young people have enjoyed all the activities, being away from home, swimming, the archery and this afternoon we did climbing and rope swinging”

Sunday saw the group on their bikes

The Up and Under Foundation was established in 2007 and is largely funded by the activities of staff and friends of the construction and asset management company, the Up and Under Group. Later this year the Foundation will supporting another weekend trip, this time for a group of young carers from Crewe. Additionally they will be helping less well off individuals to take part in adventurous activities working with schools and scout groups.

All of this excitement is great for developing youngsters experience and confidence. I does come at a cost though and later in the year both the Buddies and the Foundation will have significant fund raising efforts. The Buddies will be fund raising at B&Q over Easter, and the Up and Under Foundation have organised a corporate cycle challenge on Sunday 9th June - see www.foundationrides.co.uk.

Cheshire Buddies are planning to take a second group to the Isle of Man later in the year and have the significant challenge of a Lands End to John O'Groats cycle ride to complete. For more information of the Buddies activities see www.cheshirebuddies.co.uk.

Sadly they were forced to listen to Andy's singing ;o)

For more information about the Up and Under Group www.upandunderfoundation.org 

Foundation Rides

Here's a date for your diaries.  On June 9th we will be organising a couple of challenge rides to raise money for the Up and Under Foundation.

As we all have good intentions in January it is a good time to set yourself a goal that might need a little preparation (training) to acomplish.

So enter now at:

www.foundationrides.co.uk

More importantly Andy's mum will be supplying cake.

Please note - numbers are limited

Charity Cycle Collection

The Up and Under Group are committed to being a positive force in our community and our latest venture is a hood up with Recycle Cycles in Crewe, a community venture which does what is says on th tin, recycles unwanted bikes and makes them available through its outlet at 1 Coronation Crescent. 

Earlier in the year we did a bike collection of staff and friends and in December we will be carrying out collections in the Wychwood area of the town.

Dave, the driving force behind Recycle Cycles, is focussed on helping youngsters achieve more through this venture.  He supports youngsters excluded from school by giving them experience working in the shop and learning bike mechanics, he also runs a popular club for local youngsters, getting them on their bikes safely.

Dave takes liberties with Andy's Torch

If you have a bike you want to donate, whatever its age or condition, either bring it to one of our collections or drop it in at our office. Alternatively we are sure Dave would welcome you dropping by the shop, either to donate or buy - he carries a range of day to day essentials such as tyres and tubes.

Weekend Volunteering

Two members of the Up and Under team spent the weekend at the Conway Centre on Anglesey assisting with adventure activities over the weekend.

One spent two days with groups walking in the Glyders.  One day was graced with near perfect weather conditions.  The views from Tryfan were exceptional, especially when nearby Glyder fach was shrouded in tumbling cloud.

The other team member spent two days coastal traversing, assisting the centre instructor to safely facilitate two groups of ten youngsters in climbing and open water swimming activities around the dramatic coastline of Holy Island.

We have supported less well off youngsters in attending this centre for a number of years and this type of interaction helps us to understand both the needs of, and the benefits to, the young people we help.

On Saturday evening another 100 people got to have their own Olympic Torch moment when once more Andy's Torch did the rounds.  For some this was the highlight of another fantastic weekend at the Conway Centre.

This is why we do it!

25 years of running the Up and Under group and this is the best thing I have ever read.  We helped this young lad with funding, through the Up and Under Foundation, so that he could attend a course at the Conway Centre. 

If you are a one of our clients you can feel proud because a percentage of every invoice we send you goes to help youngsters like this one.  As part of the Up and Under family you help to make these fantastic things happen. 

Up and Under Group Sponsor Awards

Once again the Up and Under Group will be sponsoring the North West Civil Engineering Awards in 2012, our 25th year.  The dinner will take place on Friday 3 February 2012 at the Ramada Manchester Piccadilly.

We feel it is important to support the presentation ofthe Civil Engineering industry through the tough times as well as the good.  We hope many of our friends in the NW will be able to join us at the event.

The Up and Under Foundation, which supports development of youngsters in Cheshire, and further afield, will be one of the charities on the night.

Dakar cars help local youngsters

The Up and Under Foundation teamed up with Rally Raid International to raise funds at the recent Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. The money raised will be used to subsidise adventurous trips run by local schools, Scouts and other youth groups.

Andy Fewtrell of the Up and Under Group said that “visitors to the event were generous in their support paying at least £10 for a ride around an off road circuit in a desert race car” In total we raised £925.

The Charity, founded in 2007 by Crewe based civil engineering specialists has helped a number of local organisations this year including Underwood West Junior School and the Wilson House Scout group.

Rally Raid International provided one of the cars and a driver to support the fund raising event. The Desert Warrior car has completed the Dakar Rally, probably the toughest motorsport event in the world, so took the bump and dips of the Cholmondeley course in its stride.

For more information see www.upandundergroup.com/community.html

Snowdon for Charity

The Up and Under Foundation will be teaming up with our accountants Banks Sheridan and Barclays in an ascent of Snowdon this Sunday.  Members of the team are raising money for the Up and Under Foundation. 

You can support their efforts here: http://www.justgiving.com/Kate-Watkinson

David Morris of Banks Sheridan said:

"The impetus of this day is very much in accordance with the primary objects of the charity we are supporting by raising funds:- The Up and Under Foundation.
The foundation is a small local charity which enables South Cheshire youngsters to experience adventure and similar activities which may be outside their reach due to economic and social circumstances. The intention is to inspire those children towards an active and rewarding life."

Please click on the charity website for more information:

http://www.upandundergroup.com/community.html

The Up and Under Foundation currently has approximately £1000 available through its two main funds:
The Eric Swan Bursary - youngsters attending the Conwy Centre
The Tom Dootson Memorial Fund - Working with the local Scouting community

Cholmondeley Pageant of Power

For those of you attending Cholmondeley the following is a link to the TV add that will be aired next week on Granada TV.

http://www.cpop.co.uk/event-attractions/cpop-tv-ad

We are looking forward to seeing many friends at the event where we will be offering rides in Dakar race cars to raise money for the Up and Under Foundation.

Up and Under Foundation - Update

Just a short ipdate on where we are up to. 

We have recieved a letter from the Scout group we helped with funding for their trip to the Menin Gate and Ypres.  It would to appear to have been an enjoyable and eye opening trip and they even met the Australian Ambassador.  It wasn't all sombre experiences and Scouuts being Scouts they did manage to sample the local Belgium Chocolates and visit a theme park before returning home.

We currently have £500 immediately available to youngsters through the Eric Swan bursary and the Tom Dootson Memorial fund so if you know of any youngsters who need assistance with funding for trips to the Conway Centre or of Scout activities in South Cheshire needing assistance for less well off members please contact us.

Details can be found at: http://www.upandundergroup.com/community.html

And if you are considering a fund raising event or are organising a function where we could have a collection please do not hesitate to contact us.  You can be sure that funds will not be swallowed up like this:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/article/53999/
Because all admin and insurance costs are met by the Up and Under Group.

London Marathon 2011

Fancy a challenge? Well, the Up and Under Foundation has one place available for the 2011 Virgin London Marathon. If you are interested and can pledge to raise a minimum of £1200 please contact our office on 01270 589615

http://www.upandundergroup.com/community.html

Up and Under Group Sponsor awards

The Up and Under Group will be an associate sponsor of the ICE NW Awards which will take place on 4th February in Chester.

MD Andy Fewtrell will be bringing along a the rally car that has carried him to success in a number of desert rallies.  The company which helps youngster have adventurous experiences they would otherwise be denied due to lack of funds will be selling snowballs to put on their car which will be competing in the Arctic 4x4 Rally starting  12th Feb in Stockholm, Sweden.  If you want to support the charity efforts you can at Just giving