Three Midlands charities who help seriously ill children, families and people with mental health issues are set to benefit from a Midlands-based security firm’s largest ever fundraising drive.
MAN Commercial Protection wanted to mark its 30th anniversary as a business by giving back to the communities it operates in and has raised over £20,000. That’ll be shared primarily across Birmingham Children’s Hospital (pictured), Hope House Children’s Hospice and Walk Talk Action. Solihull-based MAN Commercial, which provides security guarding to clients and events across the UK, encouraged all its 1800 members of staff to take part. Activities to raise cash included climbing Snowdon in Wales, hosting pool tournaments, cake sales, and events where suppliers and customers pledged funds.
Iain McCallister, CEO, said: “We have always been big supporters of charities, especially those that have a personal connection to MAN and our staff. Our 30th year in business seemed the perfect opportunity to try to do something special and complete our largest ever fundraise – something we have achieved by raising £20,000 across three fantastic organisations that do so much for children, families and individuals.
“Birmingham Children’s Hospital needs no introduction, and we have also seen first hand the amazing work Walk Talk Action and Hope House Children’s Hospice do in the communities they support. The money we have raised through the efforts of our employees, our suppliers and our clients will make such a difference to hundreds of people.”
Walk Talk Action, which was founded by Teri Elder in 2019, provides a space for people who are struggling with their mental health, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, isolation, midlife crisis and armed forces veterans returning to normal life after service. In the last 12 months, more than 1800 people have been supported through community groups, ‘Tea and Toast’, its flagship Ten Step Programme and community walks to help people return to a better state of mind.
Teri said: “The £7000 donation from MAN Commercial Protection is incredible and will help us buy a lot more resources for our flagship initiative, it will improve our retreat space and ensure we can continue to hold our important community events. Each person has a different goal, and we help them reach it, whether it is making new friends to wing walking! It’s all about helping individuals at a low point of their lives to move into a better place.”
Hope House Children’s Hospice operates two hospices in Oswestry and Conwy, providing specialist nursing care and support to children who live in Shropshire, Cheshire, and north and mid Wales. It offers respite care, crisis care, bereavement support, counselling and sibling support.
Dawn Ball, Area Fundraiser for Hope House Children’s Hospice, said: “The families we support often refer to us as their lifeline. Without donations like this one from MAN we couldn’t be there for local children and their families in their time of need.”
MAN Commercial Protection continues to provide funding towards other good causes, such as local children’s football clubs Coldland Colts and Lane Head Dynamos. Visit www.mancommercialprotection.co.uk.
About the company
MAN Commercial Protection is a member of the ACS Pacesetters group of highest-scoring Security Industry Authority (SIA) approved contractors. Visit https://www.acspacesetters.co.uk.
