Member Article

intu announces new north east charity partners

intu Metrocentre and intu Eldon Square are delighted to announce that St Oswald’s Hospice and Hadrian School have been chosen as their new charity partners for the coming year.

During this time, both shopping centres will aim to raise as much money as possible to help the two charities. intu will be organising exciting and fun events in centre which help increase awareness of the charities. In addition, both charities will be offered space to fundraise in centre and donations can be made via charity Snowdog ‘puggy’ banks or collection tins at the customer service desks.

As part of the fundraising initiative, Phil Steele, general manager of intu Eldon Square, and Gavin Prior, general manager of intu Metrocentre will be leading a team of 18 staff members from both centres on a trek up Ben Nevis on 20 May 2017 to raise funds for both charities.

For the past three decades St Oswald’s Hospice has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone in the north east living with an incurable condition, as well as their families. The charity also provides important day services for people with life-limiting illnesses, including courses in relaxation and creative writing classes – all of which aim to enhance people’s sense of wellbeing and enjoyment.

Hadrian School opened in 1999 and caters for the needs of pupils aged between two and eleven years with a range of additional needs including complex, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Clare Cannon, community manager intu north east, said:

“As a company intu is dedicated to supporting the community that it serves and our two chosen charities of the year are both extraordinary examples of how one organisation can have such a significant impact on the local community.

“Hadrian School provides exceptional levels of teaching in a vibrant, nurturing learning environment and St Oswald’s Hospice is close to the heart of many people in the north east, renowned for the care and compassion that it provides to patients and their families.

We’re so pleased to be able to support both charities and look forward to an exciting year ahead.“

Susan Jones, Corporate & Major Gifts Fundraising Manager at St Oswald’s Hospice, said: “We are so grateful for the support from intu Metrocentre and intu Eldon Square. A huge thank you to all of the staff who will be taking part in events to fundraise for us.

“We rely on the support of local companies and people to help us raise the £7 million we need each year to continue providing support to North East families.”

David Palmer, Business Manager at Hadrian School, added:

“The children and staff of Hadrian School are so grateful to intu for choosing them as their charity of the year. Hadrian School relies heavily on the kind and generous support from organisations like intu and the funds raised will make a huge impact on what the school can achieve this year.

“With 170 children currently on roll, and numbers looking to increase to 200 in the next few years the resources at the school are in massive demand. The school is looking to re-vamp its current hydro-pool with a new light and sound system, and repair elements of the pool to ensure that children can make full use of the pool during school time.

“The whole school is very excited about the year ahead and the fundraising opportunities that intu is planning.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Suhaine Baptie .