Big-hearted staff at the WeDo Business Services group have launched a mammoth mission for Christmas which will see more than a dozen good causes benefit from cash donations, festive gifts and volunteering.
A total of 16 charities are being helped as a result of WeDo’s Countdown to Christmas initiative involving a taskforce of staff from the group’s headquarters in Oldham and offices around the country.
Among those in the north west to receive assistance are women’s foodbank Emmeline’s Pantry, the Cindy Appleyard Foundation, the Wipe Your Tears children’s charity, Wood Street Mission and We Love MCR Charity’s Rising Stars Fund.
Further afield, WeDo is also helping Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, Sheffield-based homeless charity Roundabout, and Havens Hospices in Essex.
In addition to cash donations, WeDo is providing food, gifts and vouchers for day trips to bring festive cheer to families in need. Staff have also undertaken to give up their time to volunteer in charity shops and a retirement home in the run-up to Christmas.
All of the charities were nominated by members of staff at WeDo after the company decided to support good causes rather than sending Christmas gifts to business contacts and clients.
The WeDo group has its headquarters in Oldham and additional offices at MediaCityUK in Salford, Sheffield, Swindon and Colchester.
Founded in 2019 by Mark Lindsay and Chris Robinson with just four staff, the group has grown organically and through acquisitions and now employs nearly 100 people.
Its range of services to SMEs includes invoice and trade finance, start-up funding, HR support, back office, digital and IT services.
The Countdown to Christmas drive is the latest in a series of charity endeavours by staff at WeDo, which have seen thousands of pounds raised for a range of good causes.
In July, a team took part in the Pretty Muddy 5k obstacle course event at Manchester’s Heaton Park in support of Cancer Research UK. They raised just over £1,300 from sponsors, and WeDo matched the figure to make a total of £2,665.
In November, WeDo manager Jacqui Cryer competed in the Strictly Best Foot Forward ballroom dancing fundraiser for Bury Hospice. Jacqui and her best friend Jessica Cambray trained for 13 weeks and waltzed off with the rock and roll category prize, raising over £1,400 in sponsorship through their efforts. WeDo is topping up the sum to make a total of £2,000.
Meanwhile Sarah Cook, director of WeDo HR Support, ran the London Marathon in aid of the Leonard Cheshire Disability charity and raised £860, including a contribution from the company.
Mark Lindsay said: “We’re extremely proud of all our staff who go the extra mile to help good causes they believe in.
“Times are tough for many people this winter with the cost-of-living crisis and spiralling energy bills, creating pressures for families and charitable organisations, many of which have struggled for donations as a result of the pandemic.
“Through our Countdown to Christmas campaign, we want to support some of the excellent charities making a meaningful difference to people’s lives, rather than giving gifts to clients. Colleagues across the group are taking part and it’s great to see them giving up their time to help those in need.
“Similarly, we’ve seen many colleagues undertake charity activities during the year and we’ve been delighted to support them in their efforts.
“We don’t pretend to be able to solve every issue, but we are very mindful of the world around us and, if we can help in a small way, this has to be a good thing.”