2015 Charity of the Year - summary

Belgarum had a great 2015 in terms of business accomplishments, achieving their best ever figures to date, but also in terms of the voluntary and fundraising contributions and commitment made by staff for their 2015 Charity of the Year, Trinity Winchester. Trinity Winchester helps Winchester’s homeless and vulnerable people. Belgarum raised a fantastic amount for Trinity Winchester and were ranked in Just Giving’s top 3% of fundraisers in 2015.

Fundraising efforts throughout the year included participating in The Big Sleep Out whereby a £1,500 donation helped sponsor the event but a massive £1,735 was raised in sponsorship to support Managing Director John Leeson and 5 members of his staff slept rough for the night in the Cathedral grounds. Then in September, the Belgarum ladies took part in the 5km ‘Run or Dye’ race raising a further £326.16.

Furthermore as part of our ongoing support and alliance with Winchester Round Table, Belgarum were also able to put forward Trinity Winchester as their nominated charity to receive donations from Winchester Round Table initiatives. £3,500 was raised from the buckets at the Bonfire and Fireworks, of which £1,300 is going to Trinity Winchester. Belgarum also got involved in the Santa’s Sleigh campaign, accompanying the sleigh and helping collect donations on the evening for Trinity Winchester. A total of £3,100 was raised from the Santa’s Sleigh which will be split between 15 local charities.

In addition to fundraising, staff at Belgarum also supported Trinity Winchester with several cooking sessions in the kitchen; food runs to Sainsbury’s Badger Farm and Greggs in the city; Wear Your Gloves to Work Day; jobseekers workshops as well as help on their Christmas market stall.

2016 Charity of the Year – staff vote for new charity

With momentum running strong following a great year of fundraising and voluntary support, Belgarum’s call for charities to apply for their 2016 position was very well received and Belgarum would like to thank all of local charities who submitted information detailing the fantastic work they do for their worthy causes. The nominations were put to a staff vote. It is important at Belgarum that all staff has an equal say in who they want to help and support for the coming year as it is down to the staff contributing their time and resources for the company’s charity work that makes it a successful partnership.

The winner of the staff vote is also a local independent organisation. They host projects for disadvantaged children and adults in Winchester with emotional issues through a creative method of music therapy. Belgarum are proud to announce that the charity they will be supporting throughout 2016 is Key Changes Music Therapy.

Beccy Read, Key Changes Coordinator, says "Key Changes Music Therapy are absolutely delighted to have been selected by Belgarum as their Charity of the Year. Our music therapy work aims to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our community, and as a small Winchester based charity this relationship with a top local business is a first for us and comes at a time when we have several prospective Winchester projects, which we want to support and with their help, this creates the possibility that we can make progress with these. Thank you Belgarum, we look forward to working with you."