A Teddington disability charity has been awarded $50,000 worth of funding in a global charity competition.

Ruils , which supports adults and children with disabilities and the elderly across Richmond borough, was one of 9 charities given cash prizes in the Janus Henderson Foundation 's 2021 Charity Challenge competition.

The charity, which is located on Waldegrave Road, won the COVID-19 Relief Prize , while other causes in the UK, US and India also won top prizes.

Ruils' winnings will be used to launch a vital new support service to people are isolated at home due to the Covid pandemic, or anxious about returning to normality following a long period of shielding.

Called Active From Home, the new scheme will provide companionship and activity to these people through doorstep social visits and short guided support walks.

Cathy Maker, CEO of Ruils said: "We are honoured to have been awarded this significant prize, which will mean so much to those who have been isolated for many months due to the pandemic.

"Through this scheme, we hope to provide confidence and companionship, and support people to get back out into their communities."

Rosemary, one of the first people to benefit from the new service, says the scheme has changed her life.

She said: "Before Ruils' 1-2-1 Active from Home Walking Scheme began I was getting very little exercise.

"I was occasionally going for a short walk at 6am, thinking that was the best and safest time to walk.

"Through this scheme I have now gained the confidence to go out for longer walks in the daytime allowing me to once more enjoy walking in nearby Richmond Park.

"It has completely transformed my life, and I am no longer a prisoner in my own home too afraid to go out after shielding for so long".

The Janus Henderson Foundation Charity Challenge is a competition where Janus Henderson employees pitch nonprofit organisations to their colleagues and a panel of finalist judges to win donations.

This year, nine charities received more than $263,800 from the global asset management firm, with the first-place prize of $75,000 going to UK charity Cruse Bereavement.

Tiphani Krueger, president of the Janus Henderson Foundation, said: "This is an event we look forward to every year because it allows us to harness the giving spirit of our employees and make positive contributions to the communities we operate in across the globe.

"The donations we make to these charities will help them provide vital services to underserved communities and people in need — like mental health support for the bereaved and access to education, medical care and food for people experiencing poverty.

"It's a friendly competition that allows us to support causes we're passionate about."

You can learn more about Ruils and the services they provide HERE.

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