Fred. Olsen companies pledge support to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, Guide Dogs and Papworth Trust as new staff charities for 2019/20

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), Guide Dogs and Papworth Trust are to benefit from a host of fundraising efforts in 2019/20 after they were named as the official staff charities for Suffolk-based Fred. Olsen companies this year.

Staff at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Fred. Olsen Ltd, both based in Ipswich, will organise a number of in-house fundraising activities, such as dress down days, bake sales and sponsored challenges, and will offer support to the charities’ annual campaigns.

Each year, all staff across the two Fred. Olsen companies are given the opportunity to ‘nominate’ a local charity to be supported for the next financial year. The charities that receive the highest number of nominations are then put to an internal vote. The charities that receive the three highest numbers of votes become the beneficiaries of charitable efforts by both companies for the duration of the year.

Tom Nunn, Chairman of the Fred. Olsen Charity Committee, said:

“With so many charities providing such vital services and support across our county, selecting our charity beneficiaries for the next year is always a difficult task. By sharing this out amongst the office we know that we are supporting causes that are very close to the hearts of our colleagues and their families.

“We have around 200 people employed at Fred. Olsen House and Dencora Business Centre and the teams always throw themselves behind our fundraising efforts – I know that this year will be no different.

“All of us here are looking forward to another year of fundraising for some extremely worthy causes, while having lots of fun in the process!”

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices provide a number of services and support for children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions and their families, including specialist nursing care, symptom management nursing, short breaks, wellbeing activities, therapies and counselling; all meeting the individual needs of the child, young person and whole family.

For families accessing care and those who have been bereaved, EACH is a lifeline at an unimaginably difficult time. When time is short, we help families make the most of their precious time together and create memories that last forever.

Vicky Matthews, Corporate Fundraiser for EACH, Suffolk & East Essex, said:

“EACH is delighted to be one of Fred. Olsen’s charity partners in 2019/2020. To have support from a well-respected local business is important to EACH as this helps us to raise the vital funds we need to continue to provide care for local life-threatened children, young people and their families.

“We look forward to supporting Fred Olsen with their fundraising plans and activities.”

Papworth Trust operates a range of leisure and learning activities through its day services in Foundation Street and Museum Street in Ipswich including arts and crafts, woodwork, gardening, catering skills, social skills and confidence-building.

It also runs care services in the town that were rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC in September 2018, and a First Steps to Success work programme which offers tailored one-to-one support to unemployed adults with Autism and mild to moderate learning disabilities, aged 18 or over and living in the Ipswich and surrounding area.

Support includes training, apprenticeships, work placements, volunteering and employment opportunities.

Jo Revitt, Corporate Partnership Fundraiser at disability charity Papworth Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been named as one of Fred. Olsen’s charities for 2019/20 and we would like to thank their staff for choosing us.

“This will make a direct difference to the care and support we offer to disabled people and their families in the Ipswich area while raising awareness of the crucial work we do across the Ipswich area.”

Guide Dogs delivers a range of life changing mobility services for people who are blind and partially sighted. The charity works with a range of different people from all different backgrounds; from new parents with a child who has been diagnosed with a visual impairment, to children and young people, right through to service users in their 80s and 90s.

Mandy Loveder, Community Fundraising Development Officer for Guide Dogs, said:

“We are very excited and happy to be a part of the Fred. Olsen Charity family and look forward to working in partnership with them.

“Funds raised by Fred. Olsen will enable us to continue to deliver life changing services to people with sight loss in the area.”

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com