Member Article

Business support for leading North East charity

Leading businesses, including HSBC, Northumbrian Water and Dickinson Dees, are lending their support to one of the region’s largest disability charities.

It comes after the Percy Hedley Foundationrecently announced it is throwing down the gauntlet and issuing a challenge to local companies.

The Foundation, a charity supporting children, young people and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, is investing £500 to businesses who sign up for their Challenge 500 project.

Ward Hadaway, Mincoffs Solicitors, Elliot Dent and Gordon Brown Law Firm have also signed up for the challenge which urges companies to use their skills to turn the charity’s £500 investment into as much money as they can over a six-month period to support the charity’s service users and their families.

Businesses can promote their own mini enterprises, hold whacky fund-raising events in their offices or with their customers, invest in the Stock Market or even stick their £500 in a high interest bank account if they can find one at the moment!

Sitel call centre, part of Capital One based in Newcastle, Lazy Grace design studio in Northumberland and AmmarM Ltd, part of the Asian Business Connexions network have also signed up for Challenge 500.

There is still time for companies to get involved in what is a proven method of fundraising that is also a fantastic way to help a good cause and a way to build essential business skills and motivate employees.

After six months the companies will hand back the £500 to the Percy Hedley Foundation, plus any other money they have raised by taking part in the challenge.

James Ramsbotham, Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, is throwing his weight behind the charity’s campaign.

He said: “I’m delighted to support Challenge 500 and I am urging North East businesses to sign up. This challenge is a superb team building exercise and an ideal way to achieve your corporate social responsibilities, while having lots of fun.”

He continued: “I’ve supported the Percy Hedley Foundation for a number of years and the money this project generates will be a huge boost to the services they offer to disabled people.”

The competition only has one rule - that money must be raised or generated in a legal, ethical and moral way.

After that there is nothing to stop companies having more than one team and there’s no limit on the number of members a team can have.

The winners will be announced at a business breakfast event in July which is kindly sponsored by another supporter of the charity, Newcastle Marriot Hotel Gosforth Park.

Carole Harder, Chief Executive of the Percy Hedley Foundation, said: “I’m delighted that so many businesses have already signed up for Challenge 500. I really hope they can use it as an exercise in learning and development and team building. Aspiring Challenge 500 entrepreneurs must work together to turn the £500 seed funding into profit for The Percy Hedley Foundation over the course of six months, competing against each other to run the most profitable fundraising activities.”

She added: “I would encourage any business that hasn’t already signed up to get in touch as I am confident companies that take up the challenge will unearth an innovative and entrepreneurial capability in their people, which they will see come through in their day jobs as well. I’m sure the businesses taking part will have a lot of fun but they’ll also be supporting the work we do to enable disabled children, young people and adults to lead rewarding and fulfilling lives.”

Companies that would like to register for Challenge 500 are urged to contact Sheila Coltman, at the Percy Hedley Foundation, on: 0191 238 1321 or email s.coltman@percyhedley.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Challenge 500 - Percy Hedley Foundation .