Both Compass HQ and our Manchester Office recently held a Valentine’s themed charity day. All funds were raised for two fantastic charities!

Compass HQ are donating to local Portsmouth charity A World Without Friends and our Manchester Office have raised funds for local Mancunian charity Manchester Cares. Both offices combined have raised an amazing total of £453!

Valentine’s themed charity day at Compass HQ

All employees based in Compass HQ, in Portsmouth, were asked to take part in the charity day either by bringing in baked goods, wearing red or pink or a donation. We had a variety of sweet and savoury delicious treats all baked by the team. The variety of food options were very much enjoyed but the cheese and Marmite sausage rolls, baked by Tullula Farrell from the Specialist Services Division, were a clear vote winner!

Portsmouth’s Community and Wellbeing Ambassador, Jodie Kemp comments:

“Our valentine’s themed Bake Off was a huge success – thank you to everyone who contributed! Probably the first time Compass HQ has seen over 100 sausage rolls and pastry goods!

We raised over £300 for such a worthwhile charity, and a fun filled day was had by all. Thank you to everyone who donated, A world With Friends will be very grateful!”

About A world With Friends

A World With Friends makes life better in so many ways; they encourage, support, challenge and motivate us. Chronically ill and disabled children miss time at school; this not only affects their education, but also means they miss out on establishing friendships.  Studies show that genuine friendships result in better health – something that the children we help could definitely benefit from!

Lewis Hine started Friend Finder now called A World With Friends as a 14 year old, who found himself feeling lonely and isolated. He discovered that there are over 1 million children in the UK suffering from a long term illness or disability that require time away from school. Lewis decided that he would bring as many children as he could to  have fun and make friends.

The charity organises a variety of events for children.  So far, this has included Christmas parties, discos, wheelchair basketball, gaming sessions, soft play sessions and indoor skiing. They have even held the first ever Friend Finder Prom for chronically ill and disabled young people at the Guildhall in Portsmouth. This event proved so successful that they have organised it several times since.

For further information about A World With Friends, click here.

Valentine’s themed charity day at the Manchester Office

The Manchester team also held their own Bake Off, by having a similar format to Compass HQ. Their office was decorated in pink and red to match the theme and all employees provided their own home bakes. There was a mix of sweet and savoury foods on offer for all to try. Congratulations to Lynette Robb, from the Manchester Specialist Services Division, for winning Star Baker!

Manchester’s Community and Wellbeing Ambassador, Marrianne O’Reilly comments:

“Manchester Cares are a local charity that support people in the local community by connecting like-minded people of all ages, particularly those that feel isolated and would like to gain long-lasting friendships and a deeper connection to the city itself. A fantastic effort was made all round from the Manchester team which included some brilliant bakes, both sweet and savoury.

The charity attended and gave a short presentation, as well as enjoying the cakes with some of the team over lunch. I am delighted with how the Manchester office really got stuck in. As an office, we raised £150!”

The Manchester team have chosen to support local Mancunian charity Manchester Cares. The charity’s aim is to prevent loneliness and encourage a community for people to look after each other. Red below for further information about Manchester Cares.

About Manchester Cares

Manchester Cares is a community network of younger and older neighbours hanging out and helping one another in our rapidly changing city.

For our older neighbours in particular, many of whom have spent a lifetime in their home neighbourhoods, the rush and pace of the city can often now feel too much. Getting around can be difficult, and trends including globalisation, gentrification, migration and digitisation are transforming communities faster than ever before. Meanwhile, young professionals – often graduates from across the country and around the world – can have hundreds of connections in the social media age, but often no roots in their communities.

The separation of those parallel worlds wastes human potential, entrenches loneliness and isolation, perpetuates social division and is ultimately corrosive for our society. Manchester Cares seeks to address this modern blight of disconnection by harnessing the people and places around us for the benefit of all.

For further information about Manchester Cares click here.

Read more about our other charity days or our latest news.