News

This month we are ecstatic to announce that local company Glassbond have joined us and will be supporting the Standing Tall Foundation moving forward. We had the pleasure of meeting them all at their offices this week and getting a guided tour of the site and what they do there.

Who are Glassbond? – They’ve been around since 1978 and in 1982 moved to Jackson Street.  They manufacture and supply organic lamp capping cements to the lighting industry, thermosetting moulding compounds for compression moulding applications and high-temperature ceramic adhesives to the automotive, aerospace, aviation, lighting, HEPA filter and other high-temperature applications, for bonding, potting or embedding components and substrates.

Their most notorious claim to fame though is supplying the compound that makes the fantastic Bowling balls we see at Bartons Pickles Celebrity Bowls tournament each year in St Helens!

Michael Cordell, MD had this to say about the news:

It is a privilege for Glassbond (NW) Ltd to partner with the Standing Tall Foundation. The support they provide to veterans and the wider community is invaluable. Having been based in St Helens for over 40 years, with 75% of our workforce living locally, we are immensely proud to contribute to such meaningful work.

We look forward to inviting them to our upcoming partners meetings and other networking events where they can hopefully form some strong business relationships with our other partner organisations.

Their monthly donations will be crucial to the Foundation, allowing us to provide 6 additional support sessions per week for those suffering with Mental Health and Addiction issues.

We are delighted to be working Glassbond moving forward and warmly welcome them onboard!

If you are interested in becoming a partner of the Foundation, please get in touch with our Executive Officer Charlie Eke for more details:

charlie@standingtallfoundation.org.uk

Our annual Standing Tall Foundation Gala Dinner & Awards Night wouldn’t be a success without everyone who attended and the support you show us.

Thanks to our fantastic photographer Dave Heaton and Paparazzi Mirror we managed to capture all of your best bits!

So here are the photos from the night and links to Flickr so you can download:

SELFIE BOOTH

WINNERS PHOTOS

MAIN PHOTOS 

We’d like to say a massive thanks so much to everyone that came to our Gala dinner and Awards night at the fabulous Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa Hotel on Saturday October 4th.

It was a fantastic night with all our Foundation Partners and Friends which saw over 200 guests come together to celebrate the support they have shown the Foundation and the brilliant things we have been able to achieve, and deliver due to that support.

The event, compered by the hilarious Pete Emmett was a huge success and we raised a substantial amount of money on the night, allowing us to deliver more Mental Health Counselling, Addiction support services and Physical Activity Initiatives here at the Foundation.

A special thanks goes out to all our Entertainers on the night –  Hana Joy for her amazing singing and for keeping us entertained all night and up on the dance floor! And to the hilarious Jamie Sutherland for his comedy set which had the audience in stitches! Finally to Showkings for their  fantastic AV support and set design.

Thanks to our Silent Auction from Colin Beresford and his brilliant team who were instrumental in selling tickets for our Rolex Competition and Hoss or Gloss Game. Also to the Hoffmans and Louis Williams Jewellers for supplying the Rolex and Wayne from Verlingue who managed the logistics of it all!

Finally, a huge thanks to  and all our sponsors on the night – Menzies Distribution, TIP, Muse Developments, New Balance,  Integral Legal Costs, Allisons Financial, A+B Engineering and Emporia Marketing. 

THE WINNERS

Congratulations to all of the winners on the night, spanning across the 8 different categories.

List of categories and winners as follows:

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Presented by Andy/JT

Winner

MENZIES DISTRIBUTION

TECH/DESIGN AWARD – Sponsored by A+ B ENGINEERING – Sarra Boumellil  

This Award is presented to the company or individual that has offered exceptional technical or design support to the Foundation, to ensure the professional and smooth running of its internal operations.

Winner

JAMIE MOXON – VERSION 1

ARMED FORCES AWARD – Sponsored ALLISONS FINANCIAL – Allie Baglow

This Award is in recognition of the fantastic support a company or individual gives to our Service personnel and veterans.

Winner

VTA RECRUITMENT

SOCIAL IMPACT & COMMUNITY AWARD – Sponsored by INTEGRAL LEGAL – Victoria Morrison-Hughes

This Award recognises the company that has contributed to the development or needs of an individual by helping them and implementing positive change in their lives and the community.

Winner

A+B ENGINEERING

LOCAL SERVICES AWARD – Sponsored by MUSE DEVELOPMENTS – Chris Bishop

This Award celebrates the services offered by local businesses in the Northwest region, and the support they have shown not only the Foundation, but the surrounding community.

Winner 

B-ENGINEERING, CONNOLLY LTD and ST HELENS FLOORING

NEW PARTNER AWARD – Sponsored by TIP – Luc Kergoat

This Award celebrates our newest Foundation Partners and the support they have shown us so far.

Winner

CARMA

STANDING TALL AWARD – Sponsored by NEW BALANCE – Danny Holtby

This Award recognises the outstanding contribution this company or individual has made to the Foundation since it started in 2020.

Winner

ALLISONS FINANCIAL

ANDY REID MBE SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD – Sponsored by MENZIES DISTRIBUTION – Adam Purshall

This Award is in recognition of the support this organisation has provided to the Foundation that has gone above and beyond.

Winner

BATES OFFICE SUPPLIES

Local lady Hayley Kime held an incredible fundraising night on the 13th September to raise funds for the Standing Tall Foundation and Brain Tumour Research. The total amount raised was £2240 which was split equally between the two charities.

At 38 weeks pregnant, Hayley unfortunately suffered a seizure in her sleep and was taken to hospital where she had a further seizure. Scans revealed Hayley had a brain tumour and confirmed it was a large meningioma (benign brain tumour). Hayley then endured an emergency C section under general anaesthetic, all within 12 hours of finding out the diagnosis.

Hayley was referred to the Walton centre and 9 weeks later, had the tumour removed. We are delighted to say it was a successful operation and they removed everything.Hayley now has yearly scans, which will continue for the next ten years.

Hayley began seeing our lead Mental Health Counsellor Phil a few months later, and with his support through the counselling, she was able to get through what she describes as the worst few months of her life ( She also lost her nan, who she was extremely close too around the time she started having counselling sessions).

Hayley continues to attend sessions now, and is thriving. To celebrate her recovery and the support she has received from us, the fundraiser is her way of giving back and raising money for the Standing Tall Foundation.

It was a fantastic night and Hayley and her family now want to make this an annual event!

Massive thanks to everyone who donated and supported us, it really means a lot.

All proceeds from the night will go towards providing help to people like Hayley, and many others in need.

Local lady Hayley Kime is holding an amazing fundraising night on the 13th September to raise funds for the Standing Tall Foundation and Brain Tumour Research.

At 38 weeks pregnant, Hayley unfortunately suffered a seizure in her sleep and was taken to hospital where she had a further seizure. Scans revealed Hayley had a brain tumour and confirmed it was a large meningioma (benign brain tumour). Hayley then endured an emergency C section under general anaesthetic, all within 12 hours of finding out the diagnosis.

Hayley was referred to the Walton centre and 9 weeks later, had the tumour removed. We are delighted to say it was a successful operation and they removed everything.Hayley now has yearly scans, which will continue for the next ten years.

Hayley began seeing our lead Mental Health Counsellor Phil a few months later, and with his support through the counselling, she was able to get through what she describes as the worst few months of her life ( She also lost her nan, who she was extremely close too around the time she started having counselling sessions).

Hayley continues to attend sessions now, and is thriving. To celebrate her recovery and the support she has received from us, the fundraiser is her way of giving back and raising money for the Standing Tall Foundation.

It should be a fantastic night in Rainford and we are extremely grateful for her support. There will be loads of stuff to keep you entertained, including Rockin Bingo, Karaoke, DJ’s and a raffle with some incredible prizes to be won. There will even be delicious pizza provided by Little Italy Rainford!

All proceeds from the night will be split between us and Brain Tumour Research so we can continue providing help to people like Hayley, and many others in need.

Tickets can be purchased as per the flyer below!

• The Scheme recognises employers who go above and beyond in supporting Defence to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve or have served.
• The Gold Award highest is the badge of honour for employers who support the Armed Forces Community and uphold the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Announcements supports wider Defence transformation under the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy towards innovation, resilience, and sustainable industrial growth.

• Provide at least 10 days’ additional paid leave for Reservists
• Implement HR policies for veterans and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers
• Advocate for Defence across their networks and sectors
• Demonstrate sustained commitment well beyond the minimum requirements

Our Co-Founder Andy Reid MBE says: ” We are extremely proud to be recognised for the Gold Award. The Veteran community will always be at the heart of what we do and we always try and support them and their families in the best way we can. Our weekly Ex-services group continues to grow and we remain committed to helping our Armed Forces Community.”

You can find out more about signing the Armed Forces Covenant HERE.

We are delighted to announce the Finalist shortlist for our forthcoming Gala Dinner & Awards Night on the 4th October! Please see below list of finalists and categories, huge congratulations to everyone that has been shortlisted.

This is the Premier event of the year for the Foundation, in the form of a Gala dinner and Awards Ceremony. This is our way of saying thanks to our partners for their support by presenting awards to recognise this. We have a number of prestigious awards to hand out on the night, all listed below, to recognise the input of organisations that go beyond the pale in supporting us to do what we do. 

In addition to this, the event will allow to us to raise vital funds to continue the work we do and deliver our Mental and Physical Health, Addiction Support and intervention services.

There will be a drinks reception, 3 course dinner, awards ceremony, live auction, and musical entertainment, not forgetting the fabulous selfie booth mirror!

This will all be rounded off with a fantastic DJ. We want you to get dressed up, eat some amazing food, be entertained, and then dance your socks off, while we all celebrate your amazing support of the Standing Tall Foundation.

Here is a reminder of last year’s categories, winners and photos from the night.

If you want to book a table or places at the event, please get in touch ASAP as places are going fast and you don’t want to miss what is sure to be an epic night to remember!

charlie@standingtallfoundation.org.uk

Congratulations to everyone that has been listed as a Finalist, we can’t wait to celebrate with you soon!

On Saturday 12th July in the sweltering heat, 10 brave daredevil fundraisers took on the epic challenge of abseiling down Liverpool Cathedral to raise funds for Standing Tall Foundation.

They all successfully scaled 150ft down the West Gate of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Massive congratulations to all participants – Andy Tansey from Cerco, the B-Engineering boys, A+B Engineering and Mandy Bailey for supporting us and raising vital funds.

We are still waiting for the final amount raised, but it looks to be over £3.5k which is phenomenal! This will enable us to deliver a further 77 Mental Health, Addiction, Housing and Welfare support sessions to those most in need in our community and beyond.

Here are some pictures from the day:

On Friday we held our second annual Charity Golf day at Houghwood Golf in Billinge and it was a huge success!

The day saw 19 teams come together for a spectacular day of golf, games and fundraising! The day kicked off with networking and breakfast, followed by 4 hours of competitive golf on the stunning 18 hole course.

The teams were a mixture of our Corporate Foundation partners, colleagues and new businesses, we are extremely grateful for your support.

These included:

A+B Engineering

B-Engineering

Infitex Energy Solutions

Latus

Money & Me Solicitors

Morson Group

Jamie Moxon & Co

North West Waste Consultants

PNZ Carbon

Six Digital

The Society

Totally Wicked

TVS

Tysers

UK Greentech 

VTA Recruitment

Special thanks to Sarah and Sadie from Morson Group who manned the practice green games all day and provided a constant source of entertainment!

A big thanks goes out to all our hole sponsors on the day too:

Not Just Travel

Louis William Jewellers

REDS Cafe

Rigby Financial

Infitex Energy Solutions

Tysers

Six Agency

Cannington Shaw

Integral Legal

KJ Tait

Signs4Golf – big thanks to these guys for not only being a hole sponsor but also supplying all the hole sponsor signs!

Alliance Connectivity & My Golf Tribe for sponsoring the Chippo!

We concluded the event with a slap up meal in the club house, winners presentation and a live auction, compered by our very own Andy Reid MBE!

In particular, some of the money raised from the auction is going towards funding a specialist Golf Buggy for veteran Danny. Danny served in the Duke of Wellington Regiment with Andy and was medically discharged from the Army due to being diagnosed with MS.

The Golf buggy will allow Danny to get out in the outdoors and help to improve his wellbeing.

All proceeds raised from the day will go towards supporting people in our community with their Mental health, Addiction, Housing and Welfare issues.

Thanks so much for all your support and we look forward to seeing you next year!

Here are some of the pictures from the day:

We are proud to announce a new partnership between the Standing Tall Foundation and  Carma – a climate action platform that puts veterans at the heart of its mission.

From now on, Carma will donate 3% of its gross revenue to STF.

Their support will directly fund our work helping UK veterans and other groups through:

• Mental health services
• Addiction recovery
• Employment transition
• And long-term wellbeing

This isn’t a one-off campaign. It’s a long-term commitment – and a brilliant example of what purpose in business can and should look like.

To Jim Holland and the Carma team, thank you for choosing to stand tall with us.

And to everyone who supports Carma – your climate action now makes a real difference in the lives of those who’ve served.

Together, we’re standing tall.