Four local charities are set to benefit from the fundraising efforts of a leading South West law firm, after being selected by its staff to become its charities of the year.
Children’s Hospice South West, Age UK Exeter, Beth’s Inspiration and Sands have been chosen as the charities of the year by Stephens Scown LLP. The charities were suggested by staff and came out top in a staff vote. Children’s Hospice South West becomes Stephens Scown’s firm-wide charity of the year. Age UK Exeter is the chosen charity of the firm’s Exeter office, while the firm’s Truro office voted to support neonatal death charity Sands. Beth’s Inspiration was selected by Stephens Scown’s St Austell staff. All four charities will benefit from a range of fundraising activities organised by Stephens Scown’s staff throughout the firm’s 2015/2016 financial year.
Stephens Scown’s managing partner Robert Camp said: “These are incredible charities and I’m delighted that our staff have chosen to support them this year. I know our staff have some great ideas for fundraising and I look forward to getting involved myself throughout the year to help raise vital funds for these great organisations.”
Children’s Hospice South West runs three hospices in the South West, providing hospice care for children with life limiting conditions, as well as support for the whole family. The charity offers respite care and short breaks, emergency care, palliative care and end of life care. The charity aims to help families create precious memories with their children, no matter how short their lives are.
Naomi Dymond, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser (Little Bridge House) of Children’s Hospice South West commented: “We are thrilled to have been chosen by the staff of Stephens Scown as their new regional charity of the year. We support more than 400 life-limited children and their families across the south west and rely almost entirely on voluntary donations to continue our work. Without the support of firms such as Stephens Scown we simply couldn’t continue to be there for those who need us the most. We are really excited to see what fundraising events the team have up their sleeves!”
Beth’s Inspiration was set up in 2013 in memory of Beth Clench, who died following a battle with Hodgkin Lymphoma. The charity raises money to provide financial and practical support for young people with cancer. Providing TVs, games consoles and iPads to cancer wards helps young patients deal with the gruelling treatment they face. The charity also helps families who are facing travel and accommodation bills because of their treatment.
Cornwall Sands supports anyone affected by the loss of a baby, they run local support groups and a befriending service. They provide memory boxes for the local hospital and lots of fundraising to raise awareness for this very valuable cause.
Age UK Exeter provides vital services and support to over 1,000 older people in the city each week. As an independent charity and part of the Age UK network, Age UK Exeter relies on local donations and fundraising to support its work in the city. All the money raised by the charity is used in Exeter for the benefit of local older people. The charity is supported by a fantastic team of over 250 regular volunteers and provides services that combat loneliness and isolation and promote health, wellbeing and independence. Their services range from supporting older people with dementia at their centre in Cowick Street to computer classes to help older people get on-line as well as providing one to one support and activity groups right across the city.