At the beginning of this year we formed a partnership with the NSPCC and agreed to raise £2 million for the Child’s Voice Appeal by 2011. Here’s an up-date on how we’ve done so far.
The grand total raised is £439,820 from various fundraising and sponsorship initiatives such as the Big Bike Ride, the Somerset House event and the HACK. This means 109,955 additional calls can now be answered from the most vulnerable children in the UK.
One of the great success stories from this year has been the NSPCC’s “Letters from Santa” Campaign, where first direct helped answer calls…
- Number of calls first direct handled: 3190
- Total income from calls handled by first direct - £34,330 (not including gift aid)
- Total income for “Letters from Santa” from customers - £6660
- Total income for “Letters from Santa” from first direct employees - £538
- Total 'letter from santa' income £41,528 (not including gift aid) - Amazing!!!
It’s been a wonderful achievement and a huge “thank you” must go out to our staff, families and to you, our customers. However, next year sees first direct celebrate its 21st birthday, so our CEO Matt Colebrook and Ian Chivers from NSPCC decided to up the ante and challenged us to raise £2.1 million in 2010 alone – thanks guys!
As fantastic as our results have been this year, next year we’re going to have to pull something a little bit special out of the bag if we’re going to achieve our stretching £2.1 million target – that’s where you come in.
We want to hear any great ideas you have for raising money no matter how big or small. What have you done to raise funds and what would you like to see us do? Send us your brain waves via “Talking Point” on our “Live” site. We might not use them all, but your thoughts will spur us on to some great fundraising ideas.
Thanks for your help in 2009, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
