A year of milestones and memories
In June, we celebrated our 90th anniversary – a milestone that marks nine decades of supporting disabled people to live life to the fullest. While the way we deliver support has evolved, our mission remains constant: to enable disabled people to achieve their potential.
None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of our supporters. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for standing alongside us on this journey.
This milestone was touched with great sadness by the passing of our President, Corinna, Lady Hamilton of Dalzell –known fondly to many as Lady Corinna. She was an invaluable supporter of QEF and will be deeply missed by us all. Both she and her late husband, James Hamilton, 4th Baron Hamilton of Dalzell, gave so much to our charity, and their commitment has left a lasting legacy which we will be forever grateful for. On behalf of everyone at QEF, I extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
Tribute to Lady Corinna
Lady Corinna became QEF’s President in January 2007, following the passing of her husband, James Hamilton, who had served as a Trustee from 1978 and Chairman from 1989 until his death in 2006.
Karen Deacon QEF Chief Executive
Over her 18 years as President, Lady Corinna was a dedicated supporter of QEF, attending numerous fundraising events and championing our work. Her warmth, enthusiasm, and steadfast commitment touched everyone who met her. We are also deeply grateful for the continued generosity of her family, who have kindly asked for donations to QEF in her memory.
Lady Corinna’s legacy will live on through the many lives transformed by QEF. Our sincere condolences go to her family and friends, and our heartfelt thanks to everyone making donations in her memory. If you would like to make a donation please go to qef.org.uk/donate
Social media round-up
The 2025 Wimbledon Championships is done and it has been an amazing tournament ��
We are so proud to have worked with Wimbledon on the accessibility services at the event.
Our team have had an amazing time, meeting some wonderful people and most of all helped everyone to enjoy the tournament as much as possible. We can’t wait to see you all next year
On the weekend just gone @run_bacchus held their half-marathon and 10K at Denbies Wine Estate. ��
A special thank you to all of those who ran on behalf of us, and those who volunteered at the event. We really couldn’t do it without you ��
Today is our 90th anniversary ��
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey over the years and for all of the incredible support. We will never be able to say it enough. Thank you ��
Recently John, a client in our Care and Neuro Rehabilitation Centre in Leatherhead, was so grateful that the expert team supported him to be able to paint again after a stroke, that he created a special 90th anniversary watercolour for us, featuring purple irises to represent hope, recovery and resilience.
Thank you so much John, it is such a beautiful painting. People like you are the reason we do the work that we do
Spotlight on…
An Inspireational drive
In June, QEF Mobility Services were delighted to take delivery of a brand-new Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), generously gifted by the Banham Charitable Foundation. This newly converted Peugeot Inspire is based at our Carshalton Centre but can also travel to our outreach sites, giving even more people the opportunity to find the right adaptations to suit their needs.
The vehicle is fitted with a wide range of adaptations, including a powered tailgate and access ramp, for people that need to access a vehicle in their wheelchair, roll-out seats that allow the vehicle to be controlled from a wheelchair and hand controls for people unable to use pedals. Having vehicles like this in our fleet allows our clients to see first-hand the options available for their next car, or how they might be able to modify an existing vehicle. Clients can try accessing the car in their own wheelchair and even test drive it around our track to see what feels most comfortable.
Debbie recently visited the Mobility Centre to explore options for her next car. She can only use her upper body to drive and currently has hand controls fitted to her vehicle.
My current car is older and doesn’t have many adaptations, which has been fine so far. But I wanted to learn what new technologies could make life easier – and to futureproof my next car in case my needs change.
Debbie trying out the new vehicle
Debbie was one of the first clients to try the new WAV, alongside several other vehicles based at our Centre, allowing her to directly compare what her options might be. She was initially assessed by Kerstin, one of our Mobility Occupational Therapists. She talked to Debbie about her needs and what she would like to improve about her current
To find out more about QEF Mobility Services, visit qef.org.uk/mobility
vehicle and was then able to recommend suitable adaptations for her to try out.
Kerstin explained:
It’s fantastic to have the new WAV here at the Centre. It lets us demonstrate a range of adaptations so clients can find the best fit for their individual needs.
Debbie found the visit incredibly worthwhile, and left with clarity and confidence about her options:
This wasn’t my closest mobility centre, but I travelled a little further to visit Carshalton because I knew I’d be able to see everything in one place. It has been incredibly helpful.
What’s been happening at
The Grange?
It’s been a busy summer at The Grange, our residential and supported living services based in Kent. We support people with learning difficulties to live as independently as possible and we like to keep busy!
Thanks to a wonderful new electric minibus, kindly loaned to us by Toyota, and some lovely summer weather, our residents have been able to go on many days out over the last few months. There have been trips to Hever Castle in Kent
to watch jousting, a large group of residents went bowling and they’ve visited Unite Nightclub, a specialist disco held for adults with learning disabilities.
Meanwhile, the warm weather has meant the
gardens have been thriving. With plenty of sunshine and lots of care from our residents, the fruit and vegetable plots produced a wonderful harvest for everyone to enjoy.
WAV with tail lift
Many clients look forward to the visits from the therapy dogs, the only animals allowed in the centre, as they enjoy the chance to interact with a trained dog and the wellbeing benefits that can come with it.
Guided by their trained handlers, our dogs can encourage interactions with our clients when they may be struggling to communicate in more conventional ways.
One of our popular pooches is Luna, a golden retriever with a gentle, loving nature. Brought in regularly by her owners, Rosie and Paul who kindly volunteer their time, Luna was originally training
Meet QEF’s best friends
Dogs truly are man’s best friend –bringing comfort, companionship and joy to countless people, often becoming a member of the family. For people recovering from illness or brain injury, the benefits can be even more profound. That’s why we’re so grateful for our amazing therapy dogs who regularly visit clients at our Care and Rehabilitation Centre (CRC) in Leatherhead.
to be a guide dog but wasn’t able to complete the programme. Her calm personality made her a perfect therapy dog instead.
And Luna isn’t the only star. Two other wonderful therapy dogs also visit the CRC; Raffi and Inca and they are all loved and welcomed visitors.
Luna
Owners: Paul & Rosie
Breed: Golden Retriever
Age: 8
Favourite treat: A bit of chicken sandwich
Loves: Sticks – the bigger the better!
Raffi
Owner: Peta Louise
Breed: Bernese
Mountain Dog Age: 7
All our dogs and their owners have been assessed and approved by leading therapy pet charities. Luna and Raffi volunteer through the organisation Pets as Therapy and Inca with Therapy Dogs Nationwide. We’re very grateful to their owners for bringing them in and sharing their wonderful pets with us and our clients.
Favourite treat: Cheese
Loves: Snow
Owner: Gill Breed: Flat Coated Retriever
Age: 6
Favouritetreat: Gravy Bones
Loves:Paddlinginstreams
Urfan, one of our CRC clients, with Luna
Phoebe’s story
You may have seen that we launched our Autumn appeal a few weeks ago. In it we introduce Phoebe and her heartwarming story of resilience and determination. You can read more about her inspiring journey below, but what makes this an extra special appeal is that all donations will be doubled by three generous donors up to £10,000!
When Phoebe was just 17, a series of life-changing seizures turned her world upside down. A high-achieving student preparing for her A-levels, she suddenly found herself struggling to talk, read, or write.
After turning 18, Phoebe came to our Care and Rehabilitation Centre where she was encouraged to try to relearn key life skills. She worked hard to regain her independence, working with our team of occupational therapists to improve her speech and language and relearning everyday tasks such as going to the shops and putting on makeup. But it was music therapy that truly unlocked her progress.
Music as a motivator Phoebe loved music, and playing her ukulele helped her rebuild coordination.
Learning lyrics, practising chords, and performing songs gave her structure and confidence. She was encouraged by her therapists to put on a concert for family and staff, which gave her a focus. Preparing for a concert pushed her even further, inspiring her to invite another musical client to practise with her.
Her performance for family and staff was a powerful celebration of everything she had achieved.
I love singing and it’s helping. At first I struggled to remember the words, but now I can sing the song ‘Linger’ without looking at the lyrics.
Phoebe
This is a particularly exciting appeal for us as the company ESP Utilities Group Ltd and two generous individual donors have kindly pledged to match all donations up to £10,000.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our appeal so far with a donation!
With your help, we can continue to support many more people like Phoebe. To find out more go to qef.org.uk/double or scan the QR code.
Bugzi to feature in new national study
We’re delighted to share that Newcastle University is partnering with MERU to include Bugzis in an exciting new research study.
The Children’s Early Self-Care Support (CHESS) trial will explore how families and professionals can help young children with neurodisabilities to develop confidence and independence in everyday life.
As part of the study, the University will be purchasing up to 20 Bugzis over the next 18 months. These will be used in special movement play groups, giving children the chance to enjoy early experiences of powered mobility and the joy of moving independently.
The study will run across 40 NHS organisations and involve 960 children and their families, making it one of the largest projects of its kind. We’re proud that Bugzi will play a role in this important research, supporting children as they explore greater independence.
To find out more or donate to Bugzi go to qef.org.uk/bugzigift
Your voice matters
Have you ever thought about the impact you could leave behind?
We’ve launched a new Gifts in Wills survey to help us understand how we can better support our community and raise awareness about the impact of leaving a gift in your Will.
Whether you’ve already included a gift in your Will, are considering it, or simply want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you –so please take 5 minutes to complete the survey today.
We’ve included a paper survey for you to return in the freepost envelope provided, or you can email legacy@qef.org.uk to get a unique survey link.
Thanks so much for being part of QEF.
Ingeneral,howdoyoufeelaboutleavingagifttocharityinyourWill? I’mI’vealreadyincludedacharityinmyWill consideringitinthefuture IIsupporttheidea,buthaven’tthoughtaboutitformyself don’tthinkI’dconsiderit I’mnotsureHaveyoualreadyincludedQEFinyourWill? Yes No I’mconsideringit hearIfyes,thankyousomuchforyourgeneroussupport.We’dloveto whatinspiredyouleavesuchameaningfulgift: toWouldyoubehappytoreceivemoreinformationabouthow leaveagiftinyourWilltoQEF? Yes,pleasesendmemoreinformation Yes,butI’dliketospeaktosomeonefirst Notatthemoment CommunicationPreferences Wouldyoubeinterestedinattendingafreelegacyeventor informationsessiontolearnmoreaboutGiftsinWills? Yes,inperson
Spread some Christmas cheer with QEF
The festive season is just around the corner, and we’ve got some wonderful ways for you to celebrate while supporting QEF.
A message from the North Pole
Letters from Father Christmas are back! This year’s design features a brand-new look and a personalised message from Santa himself. For a suggested donation of £5, your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew can receive their very own magical letter.
To order, you can call us on 01372 841151 or email hello@qef.org.uk with the child’s name, address, and gender. Letters will arrive in a festive envelope before the big day.
Deadline for orders: 12 December – don’t miss out!
giftLotteryvouchers
Looking for the perfect stocking filler? Our lottery gift vouchers are a fun little present for your friends and family – visit qef.org.uk/lottery to order yours. (Players must be 18+.)
Keep in touch with QEF Christmas cards
Brand new for 2025, our Christmas cards will be arriving in shops very soon. Choose from six beautiful designs – from classic winter scenes to cheerful, modern styles. Two designs are foiled for an extra festive sparkle.
• Packs of 10: £4.00 (foiled) / £3.50 (non-foiled)
• Available at all 14 QEF shops
It’s a perfect way to spread joy and support disabled people at the same time.
Go to qef.org.uk/shops to find your nearest shop.
Support us your way
There are so many simple ways to support QEF in your everyday life –from buying books to recycling ink cartridges or even doing your weekly shop. Here’s how:
Love to read?
We’ve partnered with Bookshop.org so every book you buy through our QEF page helps raise funds for us. The perfect place to buy your Christmas presents, you can explore our themed booklists for inspiration – including a range of gripping novels, heartwarming children’s books, our coffee table recommendations and a selection of wellbeing reads. It’s a brilliant way to discover your next read and with 10% of each sale coming to us, every purchase helps disabled people achieve their full potential.
Recycle ink cartridges
You can now recycle your printer ink cartridges and support QEF at the same time! Drop your used printer cartridges into any of our 14 QEF shops and we’ll receive a donation for each one recycled. To find your nearest shop scan the QR code or go to qef.org.uk/shops
Scan the QR code or go to: uk.bookshop.org/ shop/qef
Turn your everyday shopping into free donations for QEF! When you shop online via our Easyfundraising page, a percentage of your spend is donated to QEF at no extra cost to you. Major retailers including John Lewis, Argos, Tesco, and M&S are all signed up. Scan the QR code or visit easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/qef to start supporting us today.
Team90 is racing ahead
Our Team90 campaign – aiming to raise £90,000 in our 90th year – is well on track! So far, we’ve raised over £60,000, with some exciting events still to come. It’s not too late to get involved. You can join in as an individual or a team and we’ve got corporate challenges too!
Registration: £25
Fundraising target: £100
If you’d like to join us and help reach our £90,000 goal, please visit qef.org.uk/events to book your place or contact us at events@qef.org.uk
Firewalk
12 February 2026, QEF
Take on the ultimate fiery challenge and walk barefoot across red-hot embers in this unforgettable fundraising experience. Open to ages 12+ (under 18s require parental consent). To sign up visit qef.org.uk/events/firewalk or email us at events@qef.org.uk
A ruby celebration in aid of QEF
Huge congratulations to Carol and Colin Harnett on their 40th wedding anniversary! They celebrated their special occasion surrounded by family and friends in August. The couple kindly asked for donations to QEF instead of gifts – just as they did for their 25th anniversary. Colin has supported QEF for over 30 years, and we are so grateful to them both for including us in their celebrations. Congratulations from all of us at QEF!
A big thank you…
…to Squires Garden Centre, West Horsley, whose staff have chosen QEF as their Squires Charity of the Year. We look forward to working together raising awareness and
funds at various events. Join us at the first event, a Christmas Shopping Evening on 6th November 5-8pm.
Save the dates!
For more information or to register for any of these fantastic events, please visit qef.org.uk/events or email us on events@qef.org.uk
23 October 2025 | 10am – 1pm Shopping Fayre
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Free entry | Join us for our muchloved shopping fayre, with a variety of unique stalls – perfect for those wanting to start their Christmas shopping early! Special guest Gyles Brandreth will also be there, hosting an exclusive signing of his new book Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear
27 November 2025 60th Guinness
and Oyster
Mansion House
£80 | This City favourite returns for its 60th year! Guests will enjoy Guinness, oysters, smoked salmon, potted shrimp, cheese, and wine in the beautiful setting of Mansion House.
Could you be a committee member?
Join one of our event committees and help us create fantastic events to raise money for disabled people. Email events@qef.org.uk to find out more.
Please accept my gift of: £15 £25 £35 OR my choice £
12 February 2026 Firewalk QEF
£25 | Face the flames and take on this thrilling fundraising challenge by walking on hot coals. Fundraising target: £100
Please make your cheque payable to QEF OR please charge my: You could gift 25% more!
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