Celebrating the industry’s Charity Heroes with Practical Classics

If you’ve picked up a recent copy of Practical Classics magazine, you may have read about a fantastic initiative they’re running this year call ‘Charity Heroes’, which we’re incredibly proud to sponsor.

This initiative is all about shining a light on the many charitable initiatives there are in the classic car world, an industry that raises millions of pounds for charities every year. There are many people within the community who work hard every day to raise money and hope for others – and we’re supporting Practical Classics with their mission to celebrate them.

Our very own Senior Operations manager Andrew Evanson said, “People who go the extra mile for charities don’t seek out recognition. All the more reason that they should receive it. That’s why Lancaster is proud to support this initiative.”

You can take a closer look at the 10 nominees below, 5 of which have since been voted by YOU as Britain's Favourite Classic Charities:

  • Sporting Bears Motor Club
  • The Italian Job
  • Prostate Cancer UK
  • Bangers4BEN
  • Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance

 

Sporting Bears Motor Club

If you’ve attended any of the classic car events at the NEC in recent years, you’ve probably seen the Sporting Bears Club, which runs it’s popular ‘Dream Rides’ passenger experiences from the back of the halls. The club is a group of car enthusiasts who raise money for UK children’s charities through meets, tours and Dream Rides events. They have 1,500 members from all over the UK, who give up their time, fuel and maintenance costs completely free of charge. To date, they’ve raised £2.7 million, all of which has gone directly to helping children. To find out more, visit sportingbears.co.uk.

 

The Italian Job

Founded by lifelong mini enthusiast Freddie St George and his Italian mum Giulia from Steyning, West Sussex, the Italian Job is now in its 33rd year and has so far raised £2.94m for children’s charities. It’s an annual fundraising event that begins in Imola, Italy this year on 11th October. This year’s chosen charity will be Buttle UK, a cause that supports and gives opportunities to children living in financial crisis. To take part in this year’s event, or find out more about the charity’s activities, visit italianjob.com.

Bangers4BEN

BEN is the automotive industry’s ‘own’ charity – a cause set up to help and assist those who work in the car industry at times of crisis, offering everything from palliative care to financial support. You can find out more about them at ben.org.uk. The Bangers4BEN annual charity rally is an annual event where the great and good of the automotive industry buy an old car for less than £750, decorate it to a theme and then head to a mystery location with various challenges and tasks to complete en route. More than £300k has been donated so far in entry fees, fundraising and the sale of the cars after the event. This years’ event takes place on October 8-12th with an entry fee of £650 per car for a team of two people. To enter click here.

 

Prostate Cancer UK

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and 129 men are diagnosed with it in the UK every single day. Prostate Cancer UK provide information and support to those dealing with prostate cancer as well as spreading knowledge about how to identify the disease and catch it as early as possible.

Practical Classics and Lancaster Insurance Services supported Prostate Cancer UK during their Camper Round the Coast trip in 2021, where they restored a VW camper and auctioned it for charity, raising c £15,000 for the charity.

Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance

For the past 14 years, Philip Hill has organised an annual classic car meet, including stalls and entertainment, in support of KSSAA, held on the village green at Bearsted, near Maidstone, Kent.

Over that period almost £50,000 has been donated to KSSAA or its forerunner. The event is usually attended by 200-240 vehicles. Charity collections made by visiting members of the public and donations from stallholders make substantial contribution to the total.

 

Strathcarron Hospice

Strathcarron Hospice support people and their families across Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth living with life-limited conditions to live and die well.

The Strathendrick Classic and Sports Car Club​ is a relatively small car club with 48 members based North of Glasgow, yet it punches well above its weight when it comes to raising funds for charity. This year it selected the Strathcarron Hospice www.strathcarronhospice.net for its nominated charity and it has so far collected £125 on April’s Drive it Day and £600 at its CAR-BQ this July.

 

Rotary Club of Lichfield St Chad

The Rotary Club organises, in association with The Stan Bowley Trust, an annual "Cars in the Park" event which attracts up to 2000 cars and in excess of 20,000 visitors. The event is free to visitors but contributions are welcome!


The money raised goes to good causes, including the opening of a local dementia care as well as many other local and national causes! 

Kop Hill Climb

The Kop Hill Climb is the sinuous and steep Kop Hill road that climbs to the top of the picturesque Chiltern Hills. The speed hill climb event hosted every year is a moving celebration of the history of the car and the motorcycle.

Since its revival in 2009, the Kop Hill Climb event has raised £870k for a number of worthy charities that support all sorts of causes from spinal injuries to youth initiatives and care for the elderly.

​

StarterMotor

StarterMotor are passionate about encouraging the next generation of young people to drive, maintain and enjoy historic cars.

They have a fleet of classic cars which are loaned to young people to drive and enjoy, that need repairing and maintaining. They take apprentices to events up and down the country, covering their expenses and providing accommodation. They provide resources, including complete 'learning' cars to colleges and academies. They support historic car specialists by providing access to Apprenticeship Levy grants to encourage investment in the next generation of engineers. And much more…

 

The Grand Tour: Cape to Cape

The Grand Tour organised by Dennis Greenslade is a 16 day event that sees approximately 40 classic cars travel from Cape Cornwall to Cape Wrath in Scotland then across the sea to Cape Clear in Ireland before returning back to Cape Cornwall.

The 2022 event has so far raised over £52.7k for Macmillan Cancer Support!