Charities in the money thanks to T2000

Blackburn-based Training 2000 presented cheques totalling more than £8,000 to four of its chosen charities at an event to celebrate money raised by the training provider last year.

Staff and learners also volunteered more than 400 hours of their own time for charities of the year, Blackpool-based Donna’s Dream House, East Lancashire Hospice, Preston-based Specialist Mobility Rehabilitation Centre and sports mentoring charity for 10-18 year-olds, STREETS (Sports to Radically Educate Everyone to Succeed).

Throughout 2012, Training 2000 volunteers held a number of fundraising events including sponsored walks, fashion shows, gala dinners, car boot sales, raffles, psychic nights and a ‘rags to riches’ clothes recycling scheme.

The company also created a charity calendar to help raise the money as each department posed as film characters to represent each month.

One recipient of the funds was Blackpool-based Donna’s Dream House. The charity was victim to a robbery and arson attack in December 2011 and chairman, Len Curtis, said the money will help to restore the House back to its original state. As well as their fundraising efforts, a group of Training 2000 foundation level learners spent three days tidying and organising inside the House’s charity shop.

Providing specialised care for people suffering life-threatening illnesses in Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, a cheque was also presented to East Lancashire Hospice. Fundraising manager at the centre, Sharon Crymble, said that it needs more than £8,000 per day to keep the Hospice open and provide the much needed service for the local community.

“We need around £3m each year to care for our patients and their families, but what isn’t widely known is that we also care for patients in their own homes as well as in the hospice,” she said.

“The hospice makes a huge difference to our patients and their families at a time when they really need it, and we couldn’t offer this support without the help of the local community. Donations like this from Training 2000 will allow us to continue to help care for terminally ill patients.”

Steve Gray, chief executive of Training 2000, added: “We are delighted to have been able to raise so much money for such worthy local causes. We can sometimes take for granted the simple things in life, and by giving something back to those who provide such a valuable service is a great feeling.

“The charity events throughout the year were fantastic – especially the Blackpool fancy dress walk and the football competitions! I would like to say a big thank you to all the Training 2000 volunteers for giving up their time to raise funds for our partner charities. Without the dedication of the staff, we wouldn’t have been able to hold this fantastic event today.” Steve Gray presented each charity with a cheque for £2,200 at a celebration event held at Training 2000’s Blackburn site at Furthergate Business Park, Harwood Street, Blackburn.