It is not always a case of going, going, gone at Cuttlestones – the big hearted auctioneers just cannot stop giving to local children with disabilities and terminal illness.

Since April 1, 2014, Cuttlestones’ Penkridge and Wolverhampton auction houses have handed over £6,529 to Cannock based charity Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, with all the money spent on local children with disabilities and terminal illness.

One of the beneficiaries of Cuttlestones generosity was 13-year-old Andy Speke who visited the auctioneers Pinfold Lane premises in Penkridge to show the staff his new powered wheelchair. Andy has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type Two and is a full time power wheelchair user who had outgrown his old equipment. He can now maintain his independence and his quality of life has improved.

“Meeting Andy and his nan Beverley was a pleasure,” said Cuttlestones MD Ben Gamble. “He is a happy lad who is going to school every day and battling against obstacles.

“We know for sure that the monies raised are going to people who really need it and have often been turned down for assistance through other channels.”

Andy and his brother Dean are cared for by grandmother Beverley Speke, who is full of praise for the UK’s leading children’s disability charity.

“Newlife have always been there to help,” said Beverley. “They are fantastic – without their help we would have ended up without it.

“The new chair gives Andy independence and he is able to ‘walk to school’ on his own. If Andy didn’t get his new chair he would hate it.

“He would need someone to take him to school. He is very bright and top of the class – it is just these muscular problems.

“I have seen many kids who have been helped by Newlife – they are always there to help.”

Statutory services often have a responsibility to make equipment provision – but when help is declined, Newlife steps in. The charity challenges many such decisions and has an impressive success rate.

However, when Newlife is unable overturn these decisions it provides the equipment through a range of grant and loan services with the support of front-line health professionals.

Newlife Lead Nurse Karen Dobson added: “We are glad the equipment we were able to give the family made a difference when Andy needed it.

“We always aim to provide a listening ear for families when they are at their most vulnerable; they need someone to understand their situation and support them getting the help they need when they need it. Even if they are not sure what this is, our nurses have years of experience to help guide them to the best solution.”

Newlife Local, launched at the beginning of March, enables local people to find out who needs help in their county right now and highlights the support the charity gives vulnerable families. The Newlife County Liaison Team – telephone 01543 431 444 or email local@newlifecharity.co.uk – are able to show specific ways people can help support children with disability and terminal illness and their families.

Pictured (L to R): Cuttlestones MD Ben Gamble and Andy Speke