Virgin Money supports Midlands Air Ambulance

STAFF at Virgin Money’s Wolverhampton Store have chosen to support Midlands Air Ambulance as part of the firm’s latest national fundraising drive.

The fundraising is part of a nationwide initiative involving all 75 Virgin Money Stores, each of which will be will be holding community events to raise funds for their own local charities via the bank’s online fundraising platform Virgin Money Giving.

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity relies solely on the generosity of the general public and donations from local businesses to raise the £6m required each year to keep the three air ambulances operational across the region.

Sarah Arnold, corporate fundraising manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “I can’t thank the staff at Virgin Money’s Wolverhampton Store enough for naming us as their chosen charity for this fundraising initiative.

“Having their support really is fantastic news. Each mission costs £2,500, for which we rely entirely on local donations. The contribution from Virgin Money’s local staff and customers will help us to save countless lives across the region.”

Over the coming weeks, the team in Wolverhampton plan to sell sweetie cones, host coffee mornings and encourage customers to fill a jar with loose change.

Three Counties fundraising challenge for law firm

LAW firm Harrison Clark Rickerbys is celebrating its expansion across the three counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire by taking part in a fundraising “Three Counties Challenge” to travel to its  four Three Counties’ offices in one day, by non-motorised transport.

On Saturday June 15, ten teams of staff members will take part in the challenge.  Half of the teams will travel from Ross-on-Wye to Worcester via Hereford and the other half will travel from Ross to Worcester via Cheltenham. Transport methods will include running, cycling and skipping.

The aim of the challenge is to raise £500 per team which will go to four charities across the three counties – St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester, St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford, Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham and Hope Support Services in Ross-on-Wye. 

All funds raised will be collected via the Harrison Clark Rickerbys Charitable Trust and then split equally between the four charities.

Jonathan Brew, senior partner at the firm said: “Harrison Clark Rickerbys is delighted to be holding this challenge which celebrates all four of our offices across the three counties while also fundraising for very worthy charities and causes.”

Enterprise in action from SGH Martineau trainees

SGH Martineau trainees Imogen Francis and Abigail Halcarz recently mentored a group of 25 students at Handsworth Wood Girls Academy in Birmingham in the Apax-Mosaic Enterprise Challenge 2013. 

The Challenge is a UK-wide competition for secondary school students, designed to develop and encourage their entrepreneurial skills.

Imogen and Abigail helped the students learn general business principles, work as part of a team to play a simulation business game to achieve a high profit and come up with interesting, feasible and sustainable business ideas.

John Rice, partner and head of the Birmingham law firm’s CSR programme, said: “Our involvement in the Apax-Mosaic Enterprise Challenge forms part of our long-term Business In The Community partnership with Handsworth Wood Girls Academy in Birmingham and is integral to our CSR activity.

“Already this year some of the pupils have completed work experience placements and we’ve assisted with other career development schemes.”

Mosaic was founded by The Prince of Wales in 2007 and inspires young people to realise their talents and potential.