Sydney Mitchell presents £7,000 to local charities

MIDLANDS law firm Sydney Mitchell raised more than £7,000 in 2015 for its chosen charities.

Cheques were presented to Diane Watt of the Maria Watt Foundation and Eileen Rock of the Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity at the Movers and Shakers networking event held at Purnell’s Bistro in Birmingham.

The funds were raised from the firm’s annual ball, charity quiz, the Shirley Fun Run, cake bakes, dress down days and various other fundraising activities.

Div Singh, senior partner at Sydney Mitchell, said: “It is very important to support charities and help where we can – our staff, clients and professional contacts have supported us again in our activities over the year.

“Both of our charities do excellent work in the community, helping save lives. We are very proud to be able to support them all we can.”

Diane Watt, founder of the Maria Watt Foundation Charity, said: “Thank you to everyone at Sydney Mitchell whose amazing support for the Maria Watt Foundation has been wonderful again this year. All monies raised make a significant difference to the lives of children and teenagers going through cancer treatment.”

Lookers hands over school laptops

CHILDREN at Springfield House School in Knowle will benefit from new computer equipment thanks to a generous donation of laptops from Lookers Vauxhall in Birmingham, Selly Oak and Yardley.
 
Dee Allen, brand marketing manager at Lookers Vauxhall Birmingham, handed over three laptops to the school’s assistant head teacher Helen Hayward on behalf of the three Lookers sites.
 
They will be installed in classrooms and used by pupils at Springfield House, which is a day/residential special school for children with social, emotional or mental health difficulties.
 
Hayward said: “We are extremely grateful for this generous donation, which will help our pupils to develop their IT skills within the comfort, safety and nurturing environment of the school.”
 
Dee Allen, brand marketing manager at Lookers Vauxhall Birmingham, said: “Lookers works closely with the communities close to our dealerships to support good causes, local initiatives and other organisations.”

Volkswagen Vans helps Harry to help others

IN his short life Birmingham schoolboy Harry Moseley always put others before himself, even though he was suffering from brain cancer.

He sold his special bracelets which raised almost £100,000 for Cancer Research UK before Harry lost his battle in 2011.

The Help Harry Help Others charity lives on, keeping Harry’s name alive and Volkswagen Van Centre Birmingham has presented Harry’s mum Georgina with children’s Christmas presents.

Dave Brady, business manager at Volkswagen Van Centre, Birmingham, said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to give Help Harry Help Others these gifts.

“It’s a wonderful charity in memory of an exceptional boy.”

The St Stephen’s Street dealership also gave every child at Caldmore Village Primary School a present after a receiving a heartfelt email from teacher, Rosie Pang.

Emerald shines for St Basil’s 

BIRMINGHAM telecoms and technology sector recruitment firm Emerald Technology raised money for the homeless charity St Basil’s by treating its staff to a sales kick off and Christmas party.

The day involved Swat teams, Oompa Loompas, and all employees dressing up as panto Characters – 60 of them in total – for an expedition around Birmingham city centre collecting treasure for St Basils, which works with young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

After a busy day entertaining the public around the city-  along with a few beverage stops – the teams arrived at St Basils with Christmas sacks overflowing with goodies including Christmas onesies, toiletries, socks and luxury jumpers donated by Steel & Jelly Menswear.

Barrie Hodge, head of fundraising and communications at St Basil’s said: “Absolutely wonderful, we loved what Emerald Technologies are doing.

“The goods have already been given to the youth hub and are being distributed to the young people who we are helping at the moment”

The proceedings were organised by Edgbaston-based Lotty Harper Events.