Category: Corporate

Customers at the Macclesfield branch of Leek United Building Society were surprised when Veronica McNeil was strangely quiet one morning.

Veronica was taking part in a sponsored silence and raised £169 during a campaign by Leek United to help three charities, including East Cheshire Hospice.

The initiative by staff and customers across its 12 branches raised over £13,000, a total matched pound‐for-pound by the Society to just over £26,000. This therefore resulted in a donation of £8,681.12 to the Hospice as its share.

Veronica, from Macclesfield, said: “I can talk a lot and when my line manager jokingly asked whether I’d ever thought of a sponsored silence as my contribution I did ask him what he was trying to say.

“There’s no way I could have lasted a full day, so I did it for four hours. It was hard at times and I’m no good at charades which didn’t help.

“When customers said ‘hello’ I waved and Post‐it Notes came in useful.

“My colleagues Angela Ravenscroft, Debbie Swindley and Rukaya Sajid explained to customers what was happening and some generously made donations.”

A quiz, auction and endurance challenge were among other fundraising challenges in the group. Leek United is a regular supporter of the Hospice and makes donations through a savings scheme.

Home‐Start Staffordshire Moorlands and Treetops Hospice Care in Derbyshire were the other charities to receive donations from this latest initiative.

Leek United Building Society Branch Manager Veronica McNeil held a sponsored silence. 

A massive £26,000 is on its way to three local charities, including East Cheshire Hospice, following a hugely successful campaign of fundraising events run by the staff of Leek United Building Society.

The campaign saw all 200 of the Society’s management and staff hold more than 20 different events, including a virtual quiz, a charity auction and a 600 miles endurance challenge. These events generated £13,000 which was then matched by the Society pound for pound, leading to the incredible grand total of £26,000. This will be split equally between Home-Start Staffordshire Moorlands, Treetops Hospice Care, Derbyshire and East Cheshire Hospice.

Andrew Healy, Leek United Building Society’s chief executive, said: “The past few months have been difficult for everyone, not least our local charities whose income has fallen as a result of events being cancelled and shops being closed. I’m really delighted with how our wonderful team of staff have rallied to support these three charities. They’ve been not only kind but also exceptionally creative in coming up with fun ways to generate badly-needed funds just when they’re needed most.”

Kate Bowmar, corporate fundraiser at East Cheshire Hospice, said: “All of us at East Cheshire Hospice are so grateful for the long term support of Leek United Building Society.

“The money donated from this fundraising campaign will mean we can continue to provide vital end of life care in our local community at a time when fundraising events have been significantly impacted. Thank you to everyone involved for raising such an incredible amount.”

A lingerie brand set up by a Macclesfield businessman is helping East Cheshire Hospice in its hour of need.

Pour Moi will share half of sales from its new Charity Edit collection between four charities on the front line of the fight against Covid-19.

The company was founded by owner Michael Thomson in a tiny office above a Macclesfield shop 15 years ago.

From left, Pour Moi staff Rachel Kirk Lockley and brothers Dominic, Kenn and Toby Davenport. 

Pour Moi has a main distribution centre on the Hurdsfield Estate where staff nominated the Hospice for its Charity Edit offer featuring lingerie, swimwear, loungewear and sportswear.

The Hospice could receive a £25,000 donation after Pour Moi pledged to raise a minimum of £100,000 during May and June.

Pour Moi is now a successful international brand but has not forgotten its roots and has launched a  #LetsDoThis campaign featuring staff showing Love Heart signs.

Age UK, Samaritans and RISE, a domestic violence charity in Brighton, where the company is now based, are the other charities to benefit.

Michael said: “These four charities do amazing work all year round but are now suffering from the double whammy of massive increased demand for their services and a dramatic drop in funding – both caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Like lots of people, we were wondering what we could do to help the many vulnerable people in this time of urgent need and the Charity Edit collection is our response. It’ll provide much-needed funds for the charities in their greatest hour of need as well as help publicise the sterling work that each of them does.”

Michael Thomson, founder and owner of Pour Moi, with his Love Heart sign

Pour Moi has managed to carry on trading during the crisis, although it had to furlough around half its Macclesfield staff numbering more than 40 employees..

Head of Operations Rachel Kirk Lockley has personal experience of the Hospice after her father Alan died there in 2010.

Rachel, from Macclesfield, said: “My dad was a patient for less than a week and the care from the Hospice was excellent. It’s  such an important part of our community.”

The Hospice has estimated it will lose more than £1m in income after cancelling fundraising events.

Corporate Fundraiser Kate Bowmar said: “We’d like to thank Pour Moi and its staff for their generous gesture. The response from the corporate world and the general public during Covid-19 has been amazing and shows once again just how much the community cares for the Hospice.”

* For more details visit pourmoi.co.uk/charity-edit

Leek United Building Society is hosting a virtual quiz as part of a campaign to raise £60,000 for three local charities affected by the coronavirus crisis.

The Big LUBS Virtual Quiz will see households compete for a chance to be named region’s top quizzing family and win a £50 Amazon voucher^.

Delivered over video link, the quiz will take place on Wednesday 20 May at 7pm. Each team will make a suggested donation of £5 to enter, and every donation will be matched by Leek United pound for pound, up to a maximum of £30,000.

Overall, the campaign aims to raise £60,000 for three local charities – Home-Start Staffordshire Moorlands, Treetops Hospice Care in Derbyshire, and East Cheshire Hospice.

These charities all rely heavily on public support. As a result of the lockdown and social distancing measures, the income they usually receive from fundraising events, donations and charity shops has collapsed, leaving them with a large funding shortfall.

Andrew Healy, Leek United Building Society’s Chief Executive, said: “This is a great opportunity for people to have some fun and raise money for three vital causes that do amazing work in the local community. All you need is a laptop/tablet, a pen and some paper and you can help these excellent causes from the comfort of your own home.”

Andrew Healy, Leek United Building Society Chief Executive

To sign up for the quiz, simply visit the Leek United Quiz Registration page www.leekunited.co.uk/quiz-registration/. Or to make a donation without taking part in the quiz, visit the Virgin Money Giving page – uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LeekUnitedCharityCampaign.

Donations can also be made by posting a cheque to Charity Support, Leek United Building Society, 50 St. Edward Street, ST13 5DL or to your local Leek United branch. Cheques should be made payable to Leek United Building Society – Charity Support.  Further details can be found at leekunited.co.uk. Or using online banking: Account Name: Charity Support, Leek United Building Society, Sort code: 40-05-30; Account number: 74578031; Roll or Reference number: 72644536105.

Donations of any amount will be greatly appreciated and can be made online using internet banking or by posting a cheque to Charity Support, Leek United Building Society, 50 St. Edward Street, ST13 5DL.

The 32nd anniversary of East Cheshire Hospice brings back lots of happy memories for one of its longest-serving supporters.

Thelma Jackson MBE has been fundraising for the Hospice since before it was formally opened by husband and wife MPs Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton in May, 1988.

A journey which includes countless functions, from garden parties to masked balls and even making jam on her farm near Prestbury.

Home sweet home near Prestbury for Thelma Jackson.

Thelma is still involved today, with her family business Sidney Jackson & Son Ltd, the well-known car dealers, sponsoring Hospice events.

Thelma said: “I was there right from the start and helped Mavis Ridgeway who was chair of fundraising.

“The late Charles Legh from Adlington Hall also hosted functions to raise money and we held garden parties at different homes. I remember organising the first masked ball with Anna Rains at Shrigley Hall.”

Thelma and her husband Jimmy asked for donations to the Hospice rather than presents when they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in 1990.

Thelma added: “Jimmy was busy running the garage, but was always there supporting me. I enjoyed the fundraising. There was lots of camaraderie and everyone would muck in. It was fun and very satisfying.”

Her father-in-law Sidney, who established the business 100 years ago, died two months before Thelma and Jimmy got married.

Thelma explained: “I was a farmer’s daughter from Morley Green  and Jimmy’s cousin was our milkman. One day my father said he wanted a van so Jimmy came to the farm which is when I met him.”

Thelma and Jimmy Jackson pictured in 2009.

The couple’s younger son Tim is now MD of the business and his son George is also learning the car trade.

Jimmy was too ill to join Thelma at Buckingham Palace when she received the MBE from the Queen in November 2013.

He died of cancer five months later, aged 85, shortly after attending a party for the Royal honour at the Village Hall in Prestbury where Thelma is a founding trustee.

She was the last Mayor of Macclesfield borough and the first Mayor of the town council, her 13-year service ending when she stepped down to care for Jimmy.

Thelma is still a parish councillor for Prestbury, a role Jimmy filled for 35 years.

Thelma said: “We both cared very much about Prestbury and the Hospice was always close to our hearts. We were lucky and wanted to help people less fortunate than ourselves.”

Jimmy and his father Sidney Jackson outside their original two-car showroom. Their first cars were a Ford Popular and a Zephyr.