Member Article

Three major companies giving big

Tarmac Ltd, Northumbrian Water Ltd and Karpet Mills supporting wildlife charity’s fundraising efforts

Three major companies in the region are supporting Northumberland Wildlife Trust during this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge. Tarmac Ltd, Northumbrian Water Ltd and Karpet Mills have all made financial pledges to the wildlife charity which has been selected to participate in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2012, a massive annual on-line appeal funded by the Reed Foundation, the charity arm of Reed Specialist Recruitment Services. Like all charities, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, which manages over 60 nature reserves in the Region, has been affected by the cuts in funding for wildlife conservation work. Donations to charity have fallen by 20% in real terms in the past year says the UK Giving Report 2012, compiled by the Charities Aid Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations - this news comes at a time when wildlife is facing more challenges to its future than ever before and certainly since the wildlife trust movement was founded one hundred years ago. So, when a ‘double your money opportunity’ to get match funding comes along, an organisation has to grab it with both hands. If the Trust can raise a total of £20,000 from the general public and supporters via the Big Give website, on three specific days in December, it will receive a further £20,000 from a number of ‘Charity Champions’ (foundations/trusts/philanthropists). The three donation days are: Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th December, with donations needing to be made via the Big Give website – visit www.thebiggive.org.uk and searching for Northumberland Wildlife Trust to donate. There is a certain amount of money allocated for each of the three days and once the money has gone for that day, the fund closes until the following day, so it is best to donate as soon after 10am as possible. Anybody who doesn’t have access to a computer can call into Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Gosforth Headquarters at St Nicholas Park, Gosforth, Newcastle or its Hauxley Visitor Centre, on Druridge Bay, 10am - 3pm, Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th December. Conrad Dickinson, managing director of Karpet Mills and intrepid polar explorer has pledged his support to the wildlife charity’s participation in the Big Give, he said: “During my Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, I have seen the effect of climate change on our environment and realise we must all get more involved to preserve and protect our fragile surroundings. “We are making great steps forward, and I have enjoyed sightings of otters, barn owls and red kites. By contrast, I am saddened when I stroll along the River Tipalt near Haltwhistle, that I no longer see the scores of water voles which used to inhabit the river bank. It is only by embracing and involving as many people as possible that we can change our natural beauty in this changing world. Please support the Trust’s Big Give Campaign - no amount is too small.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Bishop .