Santander teams raise funds for new hospice

STAFF in all 25 branches of Santander in the Birmingham area have been busy fundraising for Marie Curie’s Big Build Appeal during the last 10 months and their efforts have raided £2,750 which will be match funded by Santander to £5,450.

This money will go towards helping the charity finish building and equipping its new hospice for the West Midlands, currently nearing completion in Solihull.

Spencer Greaves at Santander said: ”All our staff have really worked hard to raise money for this important local cause.

“They have been baking cakes, running half marathons and holding in branch fundraising days and we’re all so pleased to have been able to help Marie Curie’s new hospice.”

Smith Cooper gives something back in San Diego

DIRECTORS from the Birmingham office of accountants Smith Cooper, found time to help underprivileged families in San Diego while attending the Alliott Group annual 2012 Worldwide Conference.

As part of this year’s conference, Smith Cooper joined other professionals to take part in the ‘Giving Something Back’ project which helps San Diego’s most deprived residents by supporting the local YMCA, which serves over a quarter of a million people in the city.

Smith Cooper’s lead partner Jeremy Cope and tax director Ed Saunders spent the day helping to produce more than 800 hygiene kits to be given out to families who use the YMCA, and packed more than 300 Halloween bags for parties taking place in the community.

Cope said: “The ‘Giving Something Back’ programme allowed us to take a step back from being immersed in business and get hands-on experience helping people in the San Diego community. At Smith Cooper we are committed to supporting charitable causes, and we are proud to have been involved in the project which does such great work.”

Luxury For Less backs ambulance appeal

A COVENTRY bathroom retailer is sharing its success with Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.

Luxury For Less has given £1,000 to help the air ambulance service keep flying and saving lives.

The donation is from a prize received for the company being named small business of the year and its founder and CEO Chris Li being crowned business achiever of the year at the Nectar Business Small Business Awards 2012.

Luxury For Less made the pledge to its newly-nominated local charity as the company celebrated its sixth birthday at the end of its most successful year to date.

The company, launched in December 2006, is on target to achieve more than £14m in turnover from 2012.