Charity Focus
Live Ribble Valley takes a look at an ongoing fundraising project that has seen thousands of pounds donated to good causes across the region
LAW FIRM RAISES £40,000
Hundreds of primary school children across Lancashire have received help to create awareness around mental health, as part of leading law firm Napthen’s commitment to good causes across the North West.
The Napthens Foundation was created in 2021 to provides relief to those in need through education, youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantages.
In total £40,000 has been raised and donated to good causes, including help for primary schools, nurseries and families to create a positive mental wellbeing culture, the Stroke Association and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust.
The money has been raised from a series of challenges and events across Napthen’s six offices in Merseyside, Cumbria and Lancashire.
They included partner Oli McCann swimming Lake Windermere, a group climbing the Three Peaks in Yorkshire, a trainee walk that raised more than £5,000, bake sales, a firm-wide raffle, monthly ‘dress down days’ and staff also made regular monthly contributions from their salary.
The Napthens Foundation provided more than £11,000 to myHappymind in 2022 and 2023, to deliver mental wellbeing support to almost 1,500 children across primary schools in Blackpool, Blackburn, Preston and Chorley.
Laura Earnshaw from myHappymind said: “The donation received from the Napthens Foundation has been essential in allowing us access into local primary schools to educate the pupils on the importance of their mental health and wellbeing.
Nicola Mason, head of people and operations at Napthens, and a Napthens Foundation committee member, said: “In the two years since the inception of the Foundation, we’ve had incredible support from colleagues and clients, which has enabled us to support a variety of good causes across the region.
“As a firm we take great pride in supporting children and adults across the region, seeing first-hand the difference our fundraising makes.
“We hope the money raised so far will provide a real building block for us as we continue to strive to make a difference to the communities in which we operate.”
The Stroke Association and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust (BRCT) both received more than £3,000 after Oli McCann plunged into the waters of England’s biggest lake and swam 10km.
BRCT will use the money specifically to help Apple Trees in Blackburn, an organisation the Community Trust works with closely, to deliver targeted multi-sports activities for children with disabilities.
The Stroke Association will use the money to further research and support those who have suffered a stroke.
Gary Robinson, CEO at Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, which provides short breaks for children up to the age of 18 with disabilities, said: “Oli’s fundraising will help us with the delivery of targeted multi-sports for disabled children. BRCT’s qualified coaching staff deliver engaging sessions focused on the specific needs of the children.”
If you have any charity news please contact: jan.woolley@live-magazines.co.uk
