17 May 2013
Press ReleasesStaff at Thames Valley and Southampton accountants and business advisers James Cowper Kreston have been putting their fundraising skills to good use to raise nearly £10,000 for five local charities since January 2012.
A liking for everything from book lending, to marathon bike rides and Zumba classes has spurred on the Henley, Newbury, Oxford, Reading and Southampton accountants to amass donations of £9,232, with the addition of contributions from its partners.
James Cowper Kreston’s Business Development Manager Andy Cowie explained: “Each of our offices selected an individual community charity to support last year. An integral part of the firm’s activities, partners and staff give their time to local initiatives and regular fund raising efforts. We then top up the money made with a further £500 for each office.”
Newbury staff are supporting MACS, the home of information about Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia, Coloboma and other eye related conditions. The office has made donations totaling £1,420 to fund a number of grants for equipment to assist children with their communication, independence, learning and development. Funds were raised through a wide variety of activities including a tuck box, book lending library, cake sales, indoor sports, a Zumba class, sweepstakes, indoor sports day and picnic, sales of jewelry and cards, raffles and donations.
James Cowper Kreston’s Henley office’s chosen charity is Wyfold Riding for the Disabled, an independent charity that provides horse riding and carriage driving facilities for people with physical or mental disabilities located within the south Oxfordshire and Reading areas. The team has been raising money through cake sales, sweepstakes, auctions, and a £1 for 1lb weight loss programme. The riding group will be spending £717 from James Cowper Kreston buying stain for its rails, horse tack and feed.
In Oxford the team is supporting Restore working for mental health – an Oxfordshire charity that assists people with mental health issues to achieve their goals. Restore provides a range of mental health services including coaching, recovery groups, sport and activity groups and training. With the addition of its partner donation, the Oxford team recently gave a cheque for £1,240 to Restore, which will be used for training, materials and equipment for their site in Didcot.
Reading office staff have linked up with Daisy’s Dream, a support service which responds to the needs of children and families affected by life threatening illness or bereavement in Berkshire and the surrounding areas. Daisy’s Dream provides telephone advice, home and school visits, group events and training for associated professionals. James Cowper Kreston has donated £817.75 to this charity through auctions, cake sales, raffles, dressing up days, and various sweepstakes. Daisy’s Dream will use the money for various events so children can bond together and have days with families that are in similar situations.
In Southampton the team supports The Rose Road Association, which works with children, young people and their families from across Hampshire. The children who attend Rose Road’s purpose built Bradbury Centre on the outskirts of Southampton have multiple and complex health needs and receive the highest quality care.
James Cowper Kreston Southampton has donated an impressive £5,037 to Rose Road. Partner Peter Whalley collected half this total by completing a bike ride from London to Paris. Head of transaction services Graham Carr also got into gear when he cycled across France in aid of the charity. The accountants raised further funds by selling unwanted items on eBay, hosting a quiz, auctions and sweepstakes, and running the Great South Run. Staff have additionally provided hands on support by attending Rose Road’s premises to provide assistance with decorating, gardening, and cleaning.
To find out more about the charities James Cowper Kreston supports visit:
