£1.5 MILLION FUNDRAISING TARGET ON THE HORIZON FOR TAILORED LEISURE COMPANY

Tailored Leisure Company (TLC) are on a mission to make a Stand for Access and their latest fundraising drive has now propelled them towards their £1.5million target.

 After a turbulent and unprecedented year, the founder and owner of TLC, Tara Johnson took on her biggest challenge yet – to stand for the first time in over 20 years (for 21 hours over 5 days). The successful challenge has led to the social enterprise securing investment of nearly £1million, alongside community fundraising of nearly £45,000through donations and JustGiving.

Tailored Leisure Company are now calling out to businesses in the region to support in the final stages of the fundraising campaign to raise the final £500,000 needed to secure the purchase and opening of the first accessible leisure complex in the North East, the Butterfly of the North.

Tara Johnson, Director, Tailored Leisure Company said,

“We have been blown away by the support from across the region for our Stand for Access campaign. We are so close to reaching the target of £1.5million now and have identified the premises in the North East which will be ideal for the innovative, one-of-a- kind short break holiday and leisure complex, the ‘Butterfly of the North’.

We are now calling out to businesses to back the campaign and take advantage of our corporate sponsorship packages to help the Butterfly of the North complex take flight in 2021. The new complex will support so many and unlock barriers to short breaks and leisure services that families across the North East face on a daily basis, and which is needed even more than ever post Covid-19.”

The social enterprise based in South Tyneside was launched by Director, Tara Johnson due to her own experiences of living with cerebral palsy, as well as her professional experience in the health and social care sector. The team are committed to developing accessible opportunities to get fit, have fun and relax with as little stress as possible and are passionate about overcoming the barriers and social exclusion faced by disabled people.

TLC are offering businesses a range of sponsorship opportunities which vary from brand presence at the new complex, across social media, at events through to naming rights at the complex. The charity is looking for one Headline Sponsor (Platinum Butterfly) alongside Gold Butterflies: £10,000, Silver Butterflies: £5,000 and Bronze Butterflies: £1,000.

 The social enterprise has built trust within the community and with partners including Headway Wearside with their proven track record and mission to unlock leisure accessibility for people with physical disabilities based on their regional research. In particular, the TLC recently secured funding for the popular Sit to be Fit sessions which have attracted the attention of national funders including the Community Lottery Fund, UnLtd ‘Do It’ Fund, Groundworks and Comic Relief.

Kim Hunter, Business and Community Development Officer at Headway Wearside said:

 “It is essential for acquired brain injury survivors to connect and have time out with family, friends and carers in an accessible leisure and holiday complex.  Just like everyone else holidays and weekends away are fun, exciting and challenging but sometimes a little more support and thought is needed.

To have a complex in the local area such as ‘Butterfly of the North’ that members of Headway Wearside could access will be fantastic. Having access to everything on site such as accessible chalets, swimming pool, and social areas and a separate space for carers is long overdue.”

If you are interested in the above sponsorship opportunities, or would like to discuss a bespoke package tailored to the specific requirements of your organisation please contact TLC’s Director Tara Johnson on 07861247658 or email tailored.leisure@gmail.com