Up to fifty North East veterans were given a boost ahead of Christmas thanks to Ryder Architecture and Hydrock.
Staff from the two organisations visited Launchpad’s Avondale House in Byker, Newcastle, to hand out gifts to each veteran living at the house. The presents were funded through money raised at this year’s Oktoberfest event.
Ryder’s Oktoberfest took place in October at Brinkburn Street Brewery and veterans’ charity Launchpad was one of three North East charities to benefit from £10,000 raised on the night. Newcastle Cat and Dog Shelter and Newcastle United Foundation were the other two nominated charities.
The event, sponsored by Hydrock and Ward Hadaway, saw a room full of guests enjoy an evening filled with traditional German food and drink, live music and a raffle and silent auction.
Phil Thompson, manager of both Avondale House and Hollyacre House, said: “We are very grateful to Hydrock for nominating Launchpad as their chosen charity at the Ryder Oktoberfest event and for us to benefit from some of the proceeds that were raised. It’s been great to be able to give them a tour of the house and explain how we support our veterans but also for them to meet staff and some of the veterans themselves who have benefited from their generous donation."
Chris Chennell, regional director – North East at Hydrock, said: “Hydrock was proud to sponsor the Ryder Oktoberfest, an event that raises significant funds for local charities. Our choice to support Launchpad, a charity that helps transition veterans into civilian life, has significant meaning to our colleagues who are proud members of the ex-forces community.”
Colleagues at law firm Hay & Kilner have been showcasing their Christmas sewing skills to raise hundreds of pounds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). Rosie Lovett, Kath Chismond and Lynn Liddle knitted and crocheted more than 100 Christmas decorations, trees, snowmen and snowballs before putting them on a fundraising sale at the firm’s headquarters in Newcastle. The gifts all sold out in under a day, raising £400.
Members of the firm voted to adopt GNASS as their dedicated charity for 2024 and are now planning a series of individual and team-based activities to raise as much money as they can for the organisation next year. Hay & Kilner has also donated Newcastle Theatre Royal tickets to the service’s online advent calendar, which is currently offering free prizes every day in the run up to Christmas Day
Bethany Herbertson, solicitor at Hay & Kilner and head of the firm’s CSR committee, said: “Any of us could need the help of the Great North Air Ambulance Service at any time and our team was very keen to support this incredibly important charity in 2024. Our clever colleagues’ Christmas crafts gave us a lovely festive way to make an early start to our year of fundraising.”
Staff from a Bellway development in Newcastle took on a trolley dash to collect as many Christmas gifts as they could for disadvantaged children in the North East. Representatives from Bellway North East’s Westburn development in Westerhope filled up a trolley with toys at B&M in nearby St James’ Retail Park.
The toys they purchased have been donated to Metro Radio’s Mission Christmas Cash for Kids campaign, to be distributed to children who might otherwise not receive a gift this Christmas. Bellway North East has also hosted collection points at eight developments across the region to take in donations of new and unwrapped gifts for the appeal.
Emma Chesterton, Bellway North East sales director, said: “This is the second year we’ve been involved in the Mission Christmas Cash for Kids campaign, which does such amazing work to brighten the lives of disadvantaged children. Bellway has its roots in Newcastle and we see it as an important part of our role in the city to support the whole community here. The Cash for Kids appeal demonstrates the importance of community support in ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience a little festive joy.
“The sales team from Westburn chose a fantastic selection of toys during the trolley dash at B&M, which is one of the campaign’s partners, and we hope the children who receive these gifts will love them. Residents at our developments across the region have also generously donated presents at the collection points in our sales centres. We hope our involvement in the campaign will help many more children this Christmas.”
National training provider Learning Curve Group has been making donations to local foodbanks to support those in need during the festive period. With more than 60 locations across the Ƶ and over 800 employees, the company took part in a ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’ initiative, with staff encouraged to donate essential food items and toiletries to designated collection points each day.
The largest donation, collected at the head office at DurhamGate in Spennymoor, County Durham, was given to Woodhouse Community Centre in Bishop Aukland. Their office is the base for over 315 ‘Purple People’ - the name coined for employees of Learning Curve Group.
CEO Brenda McLeish said: “I am always proud of how much our Purple People give back to the community. There has never been a more needed time to donate to the individuals in the community and this year, our donations really reflect what it means to be a Purple Person.”
The Port of Blyth has donated £2,920 to Blyth Foodbank following its 2023 Christmas appeal. The Port’s staff, customers and suppliers volunteered at the food bank, helping to organise donations and pack food parcels, as well as raised funds for families and individuals in need.
The port created a Just Giving page and encouraged staff and businesses from around the Blyth Estuary to donate, and also took part in a charity spin bike cycle event in partnership with Puregym Blyth, where staff cycled 48 miles to raise money. There was also a collection of selection boxes amongst staff.
Businesses based at the port, including TEXO, NRL Group, Helidragon Ltd, Voe Marine, Perfect Print and Promotions, Thompsons of Prudhoe, Geos Group and JK Lifting, all donated to the cause.
Martin Lawlor, chief executive at Port of Blyth, said: “The support we have received this Christmas period has been nothing short of outstanding and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to this year’s Christmas Appeal. This is a testament to the fantastic supply chain we have here in Blyth, who work together commercially but also to support the local community.”
Yvonne Tracey, Blyth Foodbank, added: “We are extremely grateful to the Port for their support and to everyone who contributed to the appeal, your donations allow us to continue to deliver our vital food parcel service to those in need in the community.”
Housing association Gentoo Group is spreading festive cheer by delivering more than 1,300 gifts to families in need, thanks to the generosity of its colleagues and partners. This year’s Christmas must-haves including Peppa Pig, Barbie dolls, Lego, footballs, arts and crafts and selection boxes are among the thousands of gifts delivered to families across Sunderland before Christmas Day. The gifts also included fluffy blankets, socks, hats and scarves for both adults and children.
The festive campaign couldn’t have been possible without the generosity and support from Gentoo colleagues and partners Biffa, Equans, Isoler, Jewson, Northern Electrical Fire Security, Re:Gen Group and 0800 Repair.
Louise Bassett, chief executive officer at Gentoo Group, said: “I have been blown away by my colleagues and our partners who continue to show kindness and generosity year after year. These small acts of kindness aim to ease some of the burden for the many families who are finding it difficult to afford presents this Christmas. On behalf of Gentoo, I would like to thank our partners who made this year’s Christmas campaign possible, it’s because of their generosity thousands of people in Sunderland will be waking up on Christmas morning with gifts under the tree.”
