In the Community
Community stalwart is pub company’s fundraiser of the year P ub landlord Chris O’Reilly is a man with community at his heart. The landlord of The Ranelagh Arms has raised more than £160,000 over his 18 years behind the bar at the pub in Wellingborough through regular events such as golf days, sponsored walks, meat raffles, quiz nights and lotteries - even a swear jar. This year alone Chris and his customers and staff have raised just over £6,250 for Macmillan Cancer Support, previous amounts having been split among charities close to regulars' hearts. And his efforts have been recognised at the Wells & Co brewery annual awards, when he was named Fundraiser of the Year. Wells & Co retail director Shirley Couchman said: “We are immensely proud of Chris and his hard work and dedication to charitable fundraising throughout the years. He has gone above and beyond with his efforts and should be incredibly proud of his achievements. Pubs are a central hub of our communities and Chris’ efforts just go to show how valuable an asset pubs are in helping others.”
Pole Fair organisers call for business support
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Photo: Glyn Dobbs
Chris O'Reilly landlord of the Ranelagh Arms at the Wells & Co Pub Partner Awards
Wanted: Volunteers to boost hospice’s Christmas tree recycling scheme
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community Christmas tree recycling project to raise funds for Cransley Hospice is looking for volunteers. The initiative on January 8-9, 2022 will see teams heading out to collect pre-registered Christmas Trees from around North Northamptonshire for recycling. A hospice spokesperson said: “By helping us with this project you will be helping to support and develop the essential end of life care provided at Cransley Hospice. “We hope to raise a phenomenal £20,000 but we need lots of help. The more the merrier so we hope you will bring family, friends, neighbours and colleagues too.” As well as supporting Cransley Hospice Trust, ten per cent of donations from the registered trees will support other local charities. To ensure nothing goes to waste, the chippings will be given to Fermyn Woods and Sywell Country Parks for their eco-friendly mulch, and some of the trees will go to the Boughton House Estate for their eco heating systems.
What’s involved? As part of the Cransley Crew you will be working in teams of two or three. One person will need to be able to and happy to drive a van or tow a trailer, Teams can use their own trailer or there is a limited availability of discounted vans available with local rental companies. You will need to be fit and able to take part in lifting of trees and getting in and out of vans. If you are in a group of three, you can have one person as a navigator who does not need to be involved in the lifting of trees (that is up to you). Collections will run from between 8am and 2pm. There will be a safety briefing prior to the event and all safety and PPE equipment will be provided. To sign up, or if you have any questions, contact the hospice’s fundraising team on 01536 452 423 or email fundraising@cransleyhospice.org.uk.
Volunteers will need to be fit and able to take part in the lifting of trees
Recognising that charity is serious business 22
Business Times
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December 2021
orby Pole Fair, one of the town’s major community celebrations, is calling on support from businesses. The Pole Fair, held every 20 years, will take place on June 3 next year across the Old Village area of Corby. Now Made with Many, the organisation coordinating the 2022 Pole Fair, is looking for business sponsorship to ensure this event can meet expectations - at the 2002 fair there were crowds of 30,000. Traditions include a dawn parade with a reading of the town’s charter, floral and every person entering the village paying a small toll or be carried over the stang to face the stocks. Helen Willmott, of Made with Many said: “We are currently busy applying for a range of grants to support the fair but there are many traditional aspects of the fair that these funds will not support. So, we are looking for local businesses to give back to the local community and support these activities, through financial contributions, in-kind support, staff volunteering or all three.” There are a wide range of sponsorship opportunities from supporting the jousting to a community breakfast, greasy pole or a Viking encampment. There is also an exciting opportunity for a single headline sponsor, who will receive a bespoke package of publicity and acknowledgement. For further information, or to have a discussion about getting involved contact Helen Willmott on helen@madewithmany.org on call on 07703 822656.
Winter appeal aims to help elderly and vulnerable
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orthamptonshire Community Foundation has launched their annual winter appeal to support older and vulnerable people. The Foundation is the leading independent grant-making charity in the county and its annual Winter Well-being appeal has raised £235,000 since 2010 to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Winter can be a lonely and worrying time. With many older and vulnerable people living alone in addition to the ongoing public health crisis, many people are still cautious about leaving their homes. The uncertainty of the coming winter months will lead to increased social isolation again this year. This year, the appeal needs the help of the local community more than ever. The fuel crisis is set to take hold of the nation and one in ten households in Northamptonshire currently live in fuel poverty, meaning that they spend more than ten per cent of their income on fuel. Victoria Miles, chief executive of Northamptonshire Community Foundation, said: “Fuel poverty has always been an issue and the Foundation has stepped up and raised annual funds in the past for the most vulnerable in our communities who need help and support during the cold winter months. “This year will see fuel prices rocket and we will unfortunately see more people having to choose whether to heat their homes or cook a hot meal. We are pleading with those who can to give generously to our Winter Well-being appeal so we can make sure the funds reach people in need this winter.” Money raised will be awarded in the form of grants to local community groups and small charities whose activities protect and help older and vulnerable people in supported environments. The campaign has had a great start, with the Foundation’s deputy chief executive and grants director Rachel McGrath taking on the Thames Path Challenge to raise funds for the appeal. Over the course of two days, Rachel walked 100 kilometres along the River Thames and raised over £1,600 to kick off this year’s appeal. Waitrose Rushden have also generously donated £333 from their Community Matters green coin scheme. To learn more and donate to the appeal, visit www.ncf.uk.com/give/winter-wellbeing
0800 088 6004 enquiries@wilsonbrowne.co.uk wilsonbrowne.co.uk For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk
