When our IT team upgraded our company PC’s they made any replaced items available for colleagues to acquire in return for a minimum donation of £25 to our Charity of the Year, Children’s Hospice SW.
As with our Laptops for Children Programme, each PC was physically cleaned and data-cleansed, and was immediately available, maximum of two per household. Colleagues were hugely generous with their donations, immediately raising an impressive £620 for the charity.
Nick Wills, our Head of IT, said: “I’m sure there are many local charities and other organisations who would love such a donation but before approaching anyone externally we wanted to first help our colleagues. We are happy to donate these items in return for a contribution to our charity of the year and their response has been really heart-warming. We’re therefore continuing to make remaining kit available to colleagues, so that any new team members can also benefit, which in turn continues our fundraising for Children’s Hospice SW”.
James Wilson (pictured), who has also supported Brighter Smiles through his business Farmer James Farm Holidays, acquired a PC via his wife Tracy who manages our marketing and communications, and said: “I’ve tried working with a laptop in the past but am finding the PC and separate keyboard and mouse so much easier to use, and it’s much more robust after I come in after a day on the farm! It’s so generous of Smile Together to support colleagues’ families in this way and I was more than happy to make my donation to their charity of the year”.
Colleagues at Smile Together have really got behind their fundraising for Children’s Hospice SW – not only did they raise over £800 at their Smile (Get) Together in May 2023 but dental therapist Dee and her partner Jess committed to the ‘Ride for Precious Lives’ cycling between the charities three South West hospice locations, fundraising along the way!