As a practice, over the past 3 years we have actively supported a different charity for a 6 month period at a time.  All of the charities are chosen by our staff members through a voting system. For the past 6 months, we have been supporting Cancer Research UK and our Communications Team have arranged a number of fundraising activities.

This Christmas period, we have held a raffle which included prizes ranging from hampers to scarfs to make-up brushes! We also had a Christmas jumper day on Monday 17^th December and are nearing the end of our annual Staff pool competition. All of which incurs a participation fee!

Our grand total raised for Cancer Research UK is £550. We are always so pleased with the generosity of our staff and are very proud to make this donation to another great charity.

Money Raised: £555.00

 

Our next challenge for our TWENTYin20 initiative was Community based.

As you may have already read, we have been working alongside and supporting a local homelessness charity based in Woolwich called WSUP.

We decided that, as winter fast approaches and the temperatures drop, it would be a great idea to set up a clothes bank in the office where we welcomed donations of all kinds from our staff.

The collection was open throughout November and December and we received a fantastically large volume of donations including socks, jumpers, coats, blankets, hats, scarfs and gloves.

On Friday 14^th December we sorted, folded and boxed up all of the items ready for donation on Tuesday 18^th December where WSUP were incredibly grateful.

This comes as the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released an official report on homeless deaths. There are numerous statistics and articles to be read but just as a headline:

According to the most recent figures, there are around 4,800 people sleeping rough in England.

and

According to the Office of National Statistics, almost 600 homeless people died across England and Wales last year.

This is a national crisis, but we feel that giving time and donations can go a long way in helping those in need.

We will be running more initiatives, like the clothes bank, throughout the coming year and we look forward to building a relationship with WSUP.

 

 

To get in the festive spirit, one of our lovely employees worked with a friend to create some mini Christmas stockings. Each with individual designs in an array of bright colours and finished with tinsel trim!

They were sold in the office one afternoon, with all proceeds going to the Firefighters Memorial Trust.

The Trust exists to recognise the commitment and dedication of all United Kingdom Firefighters, (and those serving in designated British Overseas Territories), particularly those who have died as a result of their duties, serving the community.

Over £153 was raised from this simple exercise and, as promised as part of our TWENTYin20 initiative, Martin Arnold will be matching the amount raised which means £308 will be donated to the trust.

 

Money Raised: £308.00