Reward Finance Group nominates Lancashire Mind as chosen charity

Mental Health charity Lancashire Mind has announced a corporate partnership with Reward Finance Group for the coming year. 

Having raised £20,000 for their chosen charities last year, Lancashire Mind are hoping that Reward Finance Group, will be able to reach similar heights again this year. 

Reward has kicked off its fundraising activities with a ‘Lockdown War of the Roses Race’ between two of their offices which pits their Leeds office, whose chosen charity is Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield, against their Manchester office to see who can raise the most money.  

The challenge, which started on 15th June, is for each team to generate sponsorship by running, cycling or walking the equivalent mileage of their county boundaries. That means ‘Team Lancashire’ will need to complete at least 417 miles, before the challenge ends at midnight on Sunday 28 June 2020. 

Emma Cockerham, who works in the company’s finance team suggested that some, or all of the money people are saving on commuting, as well as takeaway coffees, lunchtime sandwiches, or even parking tickets, could be donated to the charities. 

The Reward Team themselves has already given generously and raised over £1,200 on their JustGiving pages, with donations from travel to soya lattes, chicken schnitzels to sausage rolls. 

Speaking about the fundraising activities Nick Smith, Group MD of Reward Finance Group, said: “We have a chosen charity every year which is usually nominated by a staff member. Once again, our teams have chosen great charities to support this year, with Lancashire Mind being nominated by Mike Calvert. 

“We are going to have to go some distance to achieve last year’s totals, but both teams are really motivated to throw all their fundraising efforts behind such worthwhile causes. We would really appreciate anyone who can help us to reach our target.” 

Emma Bateson, fundraising lead at Lancashire Mind charity, said: "COVID-19 has affected different people’s mental health very differently. This includes a lot of people experiencing mental distress for the first time as well as those trying to manage an existing mental health condition at an incredibly difficult and uncertain time. 

“As a result, Lancashire Mind have seen an increase in demand for our services as more people than ever reach out for help. We have, however, also seen a significant drop in our income through fundraising and we are now more so than ever reliant on the generosity of people who are able to make donations to us. We are so grateful to Reward for nominating us as their chosen charity this year. We’d like to extend our thanks to the teams and look forward to working with them.” 

If you’d like to make a donation, please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/reward-finance-group3 or contact Emma Bateson at Lancashire Mind. emmabateson@lanchairemind.org.uk 

Photo from L to R: Steve Noble MD North West Reward Grp; Emma Bateson Fundraising Lead Lancashire Mind, Mike Calvert  BDD North West Reward Grp.