Giving takes centre stage again
AMANDA WILLIS recounts how we raised well over a thousand pounds to support the work of three valued charities.
2019 turned out to be another impressive year for Page Kirk charity fundraising. There's a great team spirit here and there's nothing that motivates people more than a good cause. Last year, we actually managed to support THREE important charities and are delighted to reveal that we raised a total of £1,138.48.
The first of the beneficiaries is The Dyslexia Association, which provides support and services for both children and adults with the condition, as well as parents and families, educators, employers and the wider community. The money we've raised might go towards their helpline or screening and assessment service. Equally, it could be used to help raise awareness of this common learning difficulty.
Second on the list is a vital local charity – Nottinghamshire Hospice. Founded 40 years ago, it provides palliative care in a community setting for adults with terminal or life-limiting illnesses. It also helps their families and carers. The service costs £2.7m a year to run and relies on donations like ours to offer continuing support.
Last, but by no means least, is our third beneficiary, Artcore. The visual arts charity operates as a cultural hub and brings together professional artists to work in local, national and international settings. That includes, of course, the East Midlands. The objective of the organisation is to use arts and crafts as a way of strengthening our communities and providing a platform for development.
Three very different causes, but all extremely deserving in their own way.
So how exactly did we raise the cash? Well, we organised a large number of events, including an Easter-themed charity day, with games such as guess-the-weight-of-the-cake and how-many-sweets-in-the-bowl. The Page Kirk team could also spin a bottle to win a prize. Some ended up with a bottle of water, but others enjoyed gin and Champagne!
Halloween saw everyone dress up in suitably scary costumes, while our epic Christmas raffle included tempting prizes such as a hamper and port and stilton.
As well as the one-off events, we've organised dress-down days to support the charities, along with cake sales, where members of staff have baked us some delicious treats. Which brings us on to the Great Page Kirk Bake-Off, where Christmas-themed show-stoppers were produced and we named our star baker!
It's great to know that we've raised a lot of money for some very deserving charities, while also having a whole load of fun at the same time. Stay tuned to find out which causes we'll be supporting in 2020…