A leading North East charity is throwing down the gauntlet and issuing a challenge to local businesses for a fifth year.
The Percy Hedley Foundation, which supports children, young people and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, is looking to lend £500 to businesses who sign up for their Challenge 500 project.
The challenge, which has raised over £125,000 since its first year, 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 families.
Businesses can promote their own mini enterprises, hold weekly fundraising 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!
The charity is encouraging local companies to get involved in what is a proven method of fundraising to help a good cause and a way to build essential working 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.
Money raised through Challenge 500 will support the Foundation’s Building Brighter Futures Appeal, which is currently funding the construction of a new lower school building on the same site at Percy Hedley Upper School in Killingworth, North Tyneside.
The expansion will enable the Foundation, which won the Uniquely North East award at the 2016 North East Charity Awards, to provide vital education, therapy and support services for up to 200 children and their families in the North East on one site.
Money generated from the appeal is also supporting the transformation of one of the charity’s residential units into an 8-bed residence for young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
Jacqui Miller-Charlton MBE, an inspirational leader and passionate advocate for the North East is adding her support as the campaign’s new ambassador for Challenge 500, taking over from Ammar Mirza CBE, Chair of Asian Business Connexions.
Speaking at the launch Jacqui said: “I am delighted to support Challenge 500 and I am urging North East businesses to sign up. The challenge is a superb team building exercise and an ideal way to achieve your corporate social responsibilities, while having lots of fun.
“The money this project generates will be a huge boost to the services they offer disabled people.”
The competition only has one rule – that money must be raised or generated in a legal, ethical and moral way.
Sheila Coltman, Corporate Partnerships Manager at The Percy Hedley Foundation, said: “We really hope companies use Challenge 500 as an exercise in learning and development and team building.
“I am confident that those who take up the challenge will unearth an innovative and entrepreneurial capability in their workforce, 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.”
Interested businesses are being urged to contact Sheila Coltman on 0191 238 1321 or email s.coltman@percyhedley.org.uk to register for Challenge 500.