Driving Change: Conister Bank Donates Minibus to The Children’s Centre

19 January 26

 

Pictured from left to right: Andy Bell, The Children’s Centre Senior Practitioner, Andy Bass, Conister Bank Head of Sales, Kerry Waddington, Conister Bank Head of Marketing and Communications, and Joff Whitten, The Children’s Centre CEO.

As part of Conister Bank’s ongoing collaboration with The Children’s Centre, we’re delighted to announce the donation of a new 9-seater Renault Traffic minibus to the charity!

This donation from Conister Bank, and the support of Ocean Motor Village, represents the most substantial corporate contribution the Centre has received to date. It ensures that children and families who rely on its services can continue to access life-changing support, despite the Centre’s location outside of public transport links.

During Conister Bank’s charity week at The Children’s Centre, ‘The Honey Project’, Conister’s Head of Sales, Andy Bass, whilst chatting with Andy Bell, one of the Centre’s Senior Practitioners, noticed that the existing vehicle was showing signs of wear and was in need of maintenance and repairs. They discussed the vital impact the vehicle has on their operations, and Andy Bell’s concerns for its longevity.

Unbeknown to the Centre, Andy Bass relayed this information and started discussions about how we could help. Behind the scenes, Andy Bass and Conister’s Head of Marketing and Communications, Kerry Waddington, worked together with Ocean Motor Village, to bring this idea to life.

Just weeks later, the vehicle broke down completely.

What could have been a major disruption to the Centre’s operations became a testament to the team’s extraordinary spirit. The team stepped up without hesitation, they worked beyond their hours, rearranged schedules, and did everything possible to keep the Centre’s lifeline open, even as routines faced disruption and resources stretched thin.

However, Conister Bank had good news for the team!

“The Children’s Centre plays a crucial role in the well-being of our Island’s young people,” said Andy Bass, Head of Sales at Conister Bank. “We’re proud to support their work in a way that’s practical, tangible, and makes a real impact day-to-day.”

Supporting a Lifeline for Families

In 2025 alone, The Children’s Centre delivered over 1,300 group sessions and more than 1,000 one-to-one sessions - offering therapeutic, nature-based support to children, teens, and families across the Isle of Man. The new minibus will be used to safely transport young people from school to outreach programmes and activities, and Wallaby Farm-based projects like the Wild Space, helping the charity expand its reach and deepen its impact.

“This minibus is a lifeline for many children on the Isle of Man, helping them explore parts of the Island and engage in activities that they haven’t been able to before, giving them space to take a break from their often-complex circumstances,” said Joff Whitten, CEO of The Children’s Centre. “This new minibus allows us to be more agile, responsive, and ultimately, more impactful in our work with young people on the Isle of Man.”

    

Powered by Partnership

This donation builds on a growing partnership that’s been buzzing between Conister Bank and The Children’s Centre. Over the past two years, teams from across Manx Financial Group engaged in ‘The Honey Project’ - a collaborative initiative where Team Conister helped build an apiary and outdoor learning space at the Farm.

“We look forward to seeing the positive impact this contribution will make in the months and years ahead - helping The Children’s Centre continue to deliver opportunity to young people across our Island” said Kerry Waddington, Head of Marketing and Communications at Conister Bank.

Learn more about The Children’s Centre and the life-changing work they do, here.

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