Bath PR agency Second Mountain Comms has become the first in the city to join Children’s Hospice South West’s new business club and is encouraging other companies do the same.
The club aims to recruit 100 businesses this year, each paying £300 for their membership, to help the charity raise £30,000 – – enough to pay for 1,500 hours of care – in what is its 30th anniversary year.
Second Mountain Communications was set up during the first national lockdown last year by Ben Veal, an experienced PR and marketing professional and former journalist.
The consultancy works exclusively with ethical and purpose-driven companies and charities, providing meaningful content, PR and marketing strategy services.
Ben, pictured, said: “The events of the past 12 months have shown us all, without question, how precious life is and what’s truly important.
“Children’s Hospice South West is such a truly special organisation that provides care, friendship and support to children and families across the region, and so it’s a real privilege to have become one of the first companies to have joined the brand new CHSW Business Club.
“By coming together as a community of like-minded businesses, we can collectively help the charity to reach its fundraising target of £30,000 for its 30th anniversary year; an incredible milestone and one that should be celebrated.
“I’m very proud to be part of this newly-launched Business Club with a purpose and encourage others to get involved too.”
Second Mountain Comms joins a growing number of firms in signing up as business club members, including commercial finance brokerage ABL (South West), Bristol-based Moon Executive Search, National Friendly Financial Solutions (NFFS), Clevedon-based Triangle Networks, and Wise Coaching, based in Nailsea.
Benefits include building connections and raising awareness of the business to, crucially, helping make a difference to local children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
In line with many other charities, Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) – which runs the Charlton Farm hospice at Wraxall, near Bristol - has suffered a major falloff in income over the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite this, it has continued to support hundreds of children with life-limiting illnesses and their families across the South West through the pandemic.
Its three hospices cost around £11m to run, almost all of which comes from voluntary contributions.
They have remained open 24/7 for emergency stays and end-of-life care while home visits and virtual support to families have been introduced to enable them to continue having vital care and support when they need it most.
CHSW director of fundraising Paul Courtney said: “We’re urging companies to stand with local children and families and help us raise £30,000. Whether it be providing home visits, virtual therapy sessions, or end-of-life care in one of our hospices, they’ll be helping to make a difference to families who need us now more than ever.”
For more information about the CHSW Business Club, visit www.chsw.org.uk/businessclub or call CHSW corporate fundraiser Amanda Gallagher on 01275 866 600.
Watch Paul Courtney talking about the Business Club here https://youtu.be/LJ_JsFKIfo8
