A Request from The Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

A Workplace Trust is formed when a group of employees join together to form their own charity fund which is made up of tax free payroll gifts and other donations. Often the company will add to the gift when they see how much their employees have given. It is a wonderful way of supporting a worthwhile cause and of course the charity knows that this money will come in regularly, and so they can feel more secure about their funding.

Where does the money go?

For the first year after signing up gifts originating from this form will be donated to The Jennifer Trust for SMA. After this date gifts can be made to any charity chosen by your Workplace Trust. We hope, of course, you will continue to support the JTSMA.

SMA - what it is . . .

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a genetically inherited condition affecting the anterior horn nerve cells in the spinal cord and varies according to the type. The damage is permanent, with the impact of the symptoms becoming more severe as the child develops. SMA also affects the respiratory system causing difficulties in breathing and coughing.

The genes that cause the childhood types of SMA are 'recessive' and inherited from our parents. Recessive genes are those which we inherit but do not show as characteristics in ourselves. If a couple both have the SMA recessive gene, then the chance of their offspring being affected by SMA is 1 in 4.

How your gifts accumulate: Give just £1.00 a week, it'll cost you 77p. Over a year JTSMA will receive £52.00, but it will only have cost you £40.04 because the tax you have already paid is given to the Jennifer Trust. If 20 employees from your company join the scheme the charity will receive £1040. This makes a big difference to our work. With basic tax relief each £1 given costs 77p (60p for higher rate taxpayers). Only 5% goes on administration.

The Work of The Jennifer Trust The Jennifer Trust is a national support group based in the UK. It was founded in April 1985 following the death of Jennifer Macaulay from Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease at the age of 7 months. It provides information, understanding and friendship to those in need. A quarterly newsletter 'Holding Hands', is produced and an Annual Conference Weekend is held offering the opportunity to meet professionals, and others in similar situations in both formal and informal surroundings. JTSMA has a network of Area Contacts, both for the childhood forms and for adults, who provide 'local support and advice' and are experienced in SMA and aware of the wider issues. We also provide specialist equipment for children and adults who have SMA, from supportive seats for babies with the acute form of the disease, to electric wheelchairs which give those with SMA so much independence and mobility. There is also a toy library. This is a free service for young children with SMA and provides a selection of toys and activities totally appropriate to these babies.

A trust set up under this scheme is administered by United Trusts, PO Box 14, 8 Nelson Road, Liverpool, L69 7AA Registered Charity No. 327579 Company No. 2185697 Who handle the administration of the trust for the contributors and for the JTSMA.

Notice to Employers Would you like assistance from a United Trusts representative to form your own Workplace Trust? A meeting lasting less than twenty minutes can be sufficient for all procedural arrangements .... to be then followed by a slightly shorter meeting with two or three potentially interested employees who could recruit contributers and form a Steering Group. Please use the contact page to request this.