IT services provider razorblue has supported the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA) through challenges and fundraising activities.
Over the last three years the company has raised over £4,500 with clothing collections, supporting the Air Angel’s Ball, golf days, the Hamsterley Beast Cycling event and the Great North Run, as well as making payroll donations accessible to all staff, and is set to take on another challenge imminently.
As part of the long-term relationship with GNAA, razorblue fitted out three meeting rooms with Microsoft Teams Rooms equipment earlier this year.
Read more: go here for more North East business news
Clive James, head of IT at Great North Air Ambulance said: “Microsoft Teams Rooms have transformed the way in which we conduct meetings, both internally – bringing together teams across different locations, and externally for nurturing new and existing partnerships.
For its latest fundraising campaign, the razorblue team will take on the national Three Peaks challenge on May 14 with the aim of raising £3,000 to support the critical work that that the charity does.
Dan Kitchen, CEO at razorblue said: “We are proud of our long-term support for the GNAA, especially after what has been a difficult period during and after the pandemic.
“The Great North Air Ambulance Service rescues hundreds of people every year, which is only possible because of donations. Our team recognises how vital their support is and is committed to continue raising money for this amazing cause.”
A businessman who is living with Parkinson’s has collected £300,000 worth of advertising space to raise awareness of the condition across the UK.
Mark Catterall, chief executive of Smart Media Group, has recruited the support of outdoor media businesses across the country to run a campaign for Parkinson’s UK.
Mr Catterall, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019, has called on his connections in the industry to donate free media space to raise awareness of the much misunderstood condition and drive donations to Parkinson’s UK, which works to provide day-to-day support to people living with the condition and fund life-changing research to ultimately find a cure.
Tapping into his network, he has been able to secure £300,000 worth of advertising space on digital screens across the country, which are showcasing poems shared by the community, detailing their personal experiences.
He said: “I am humbled by the incredible support that my colleagues and friends in the outdoor media market have offered to help raise awareness of a condition I live with day-to-day.
“Every hour, two more people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s and like me, would not have realised and understood the impact it can have on them and their loved ones who support them. Through this campaign, I hope to be able to change that but also to bring some hope to people living with the condition too, because the campaign is optimistic and positive.”
GMI Construction Group has signed up to the Care Leaver Friendly Employer Charter, launched to reduce the number of young care leavers in the North East not in education, employment, or training.
From its office on Teesside, it will deliver support across the region, including providing work experience placements as well as employment and skills workshops.
The charter is part of the wider Carer Leaver Covenant, a promise made by the private, public, and voluntary sectors to provide support for young people aged 16 to 25 as they move from local authority care to living independently.
The initiative has been spearheaded by Claire Preston, who was recently appointed as GMI’s head of responsible business.
She said: “The Care Leaver Covenant is an organisation I am incredible passionate about, having been involved from day one when signing up to it back in 2018.”
“Young care leavers may have little to no resources when they are leaving the care sector, and it is important that organisations such as GMI encourage and support them to gain the necessary skills on their journey to achieving social and economic independence.”
A team of North East creatives have put their skills into action to raise money for children in Ukraine, by creating a children’s book in two weeks.
The project is led by Di Gates of Stick Theory, who had the idea whilst watching news footage of refugees being met on the border and taken home by Polish families.
“I watched the news on Saturday morning, and by Sunday evening I’d sketched out the content of the book and had seven brilliant local illustrators on board to help. We worked together in evenings and on weekends, and within 2 weeks we had a finished draft.”
“Our original plan was to publish on Kindle, but when Potts Print agreed to print 2000 copies for free, and a local web developer offered to build us a website, it made more sense to sell directly and avoid the hefty commission costs, so we’re more likely to achieve our £10k target.”
The book, ‘Who is your neighbour?’ can be enjoyed simply as a picture book for pre-schoolers, or as a way to guide gentle conversations with older children about how millions of people across the world have responded to the war with amazing acts of humanity and generosity. Ultimately, the book encourages parents and children to re-think who their neighbours are and to broaden the concept to include people they don’t yet know.
All money raised will go to Ukrainian charity, The Voices of Children Foundation, to support evacuation efforts and provide emergency psychological support to children affected by the war.
‘Who is your neighbour?’ is available to buy at www.whoisyourneighbour.com.
