Next charity newsletter date

The next Buckinghamshire Business First charity newsletter will go out on Thursday 28th November.

Businesses – send us news related to your charitable endeavours, be it fundraising, donating, sponsoring or other such activity.

Charities – send us your news, events and requirements for fundraising, donations and sponsorship and any other needs you have.

Email [email protected] with the information by Friday 22nd November.

Sponsor the Paralympic Heritage Flame Lighting Ceremony

The Paralympic Heritage Flame Lighting Ceremony is a major part of the Paralympic Games, with the 2020 Games taking place in Tokyo from 25th August to 6th September.

Organisers of the Flame Lighting Ceremony, which include WheelPower and Aylesbury Vale District Council, are looking for businesses to sponsor the event to help create the best possible ceremony that reaches out to local people, highlights the Paralympic values, and pays tribute to the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, Stoke Mandeville, which will play host to the ceremony.

Please read the attached sponsorship brochure to see the different levels of sponsorship available and what promotional benefits businesses can receive.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 01296 585156.

Can your business set up fundraising events to help hospice patients?

South Bucks Hospice is appealing to local businesses to raise money to help patients in the run up to Christmas this year.

The charity, based in High Wycombe, is urging small to medium-sized companies to step forward and either donate cash or set up fundraising events in aid of patient care.

“Anything that firms can give or can do for us would be hugely appreciated,” said fundraiser Yvette Smith. “In the run up to Christmas, we know a lot of companies lay on various events and have a lot of fun. So why not, for instance, hold a festive party or have a sponsored Christmas jumper event in aid of South Bucks Hospice?”

The hospice provides care, comfort and support to patients living with life-threatening, progressive or terminal illness, and provides lymphoedema care and support services to families and carers.

Yvette added: “Our services are provided free of charge and we only receive a very small amount of NHS funding, so we need to raise a large amount of money every year just to run our services. We rely hugely on the generosity of our community to fund our services and any and all donations are of real help to us.

“Even if your company doesn’t have deep pockets at this time of year, why not arrange a small, festive fundraising event in aid of the hospice? It is likely to bring a lot of joy and satisfaction to your staff, and will give our patients the help they so urgently need.”

If you are interested in helping the hospice, please contact Yvette on 01494 552761 or email [email protected].

Free tap water refills in Aylesbury

Refill, the national campaign to reduce plastic pollution by encouraging people to use refillable water bottles and encouraging local businesses to provide free tap water refills, was officially launched in Aylesbury on 19th October.

There are already 39 Refill Stations across Aylesbury identified on the Refill App and other businesses are joining the campaign all the time.

Aylesbury Refill organiser Michael Fryer said: “The initial response from local business has been great but we want more to join. Together we can keep people hydrated – which is really positive for general health and wellbeing – and also help reduce the amount of plastic waste we generate in Aylesbury.” 

Diane Fawcett, Aylesbury Town Centre & Regeneration Manager said: “The Town Centre Partnership is fully behind this campaign. A significant proportion of the litter and waste we collect in the town centre is discarded plastic bottles. If we can encourage the use of refillable bottles this will help keep the town centre an attractive area to visit for shopping, dining and leisure purposes. By joining the Refill campaign, businesses will be seen to be working towards the change we all need to see in the world and potentially encourage prospective new customers into their premises.”

Councillor Julie Ward, AVDC Cabinet Member for Civic Amenities, said: “This is a great initiative, started by a concerned member of the community, and fully supported by AVDC. It is another example of the different ways the council, its partners and members of the community can work together to bring about real improvements to the local environment and at the same time respond to global challenges.”

Learn more about Refill here.

Sponsor local man's Antarctica trip in aid of mental health charities

Local man James Redden will explore the effects of extreme isolation and loneliness as he skis to the South Pole.

James says: "The plan: to combine a month on the Antarctic ice with gnawing cold and a chasm of loneliness in order to create a documentary highlighting mental health issues.

"I will be alone in Antarctica for about 30 days this November/December. All the kit and equipment I need to travel from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole this November will be hauled in a sledge that weighs 100kg. Primary challenge is the sheer distance - 700 miles on foot - compounded by the temperatures, which will be down to around -30 degrees, crevasse fields and the risk of frostbite.

"My focus is on mental health and I will also be raising awareness and money for The Hoplite Fund, Lindengate Mental Health Charity and Red Balloon.

"First I need to get to the Antarctica and take you on a journey that reveals how it feels to be totally alone and submerged into a torrent of emotions. The documentary will help viewers understand the day to day trials of not only people suffering from poor mental health, but also a vital element of the support they receive: the carers.

"If you want your business to come with me and help in this huge endeavour, I'll take your company banner or logo and photograph it at the South Pole. Contributions will be used to fund the ski and for the editing and refining process required to make the documentary ready for TV.

"There is an element of urgency as all funds need to be secured by early November 11th 2019."

Visit James' GoFundMe page for more information and to donate.

Send us news for the next charity newsletter

Remember to send us your news and events for the next charity newsletter on Thursday 28th November. Email [email protected] by Friday 22nd November.