Store: Westbury

Drop-in sessions to support those affected by suicide

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Our local bereavement support team is hosting free virtual drop-in sessions to provide a safe space for individuals impacted by suicide.

With World Suicide Prevention Day being marked on Sunday, Bereavement Care is hosting two sessions on Monday 11 September at 12pm and 6pm, each lasting one hour.

Bereavement Care team can provide free ongoing support for anyone who has experienced loss, regardless of whether they have used services offered by Southern Co-op and its Co-operative Funeralcare branches.

To read more, visit https://bereavementcare.uk/virtual-drop-in-sessions-to-support-those-affected-by-suicide/

National bereaved parents day honoured with memorial services and a charitable donation

Posted on by ashleymarsh

To mark the significance of a national day to support grieving parents, Southern Co-op is holding four separate memorial services as well as donating 100 support boxes for newly bereaved parents.

In conjunction with National Bereaved Parents Day, Southern Co-op will be hosting memorial services on Monday 3 July at 6.30pm to provide support for anyone who has suffered the loss of a child.

These services will be held at The Oaks Havant Crematorium, East Devon Crematorium, Hinton Park Woodland Burial Ground and Funeral Directors, and Mayfields Woodland Burial Ground. The services will be followed by light refreshments.

For those unable to attend in person, the memorial services will also be live-streamed to ensure that individuals across the region can participate and find comfort in the shared experience of remembrance and support.

Holly Bramble​, Southern Co-op’s Community Lead, said: “National Bereaved Parents Day was set up in 2020 by a small charity called A Child of Mine as the founders wanted to bring together anyone affected by the loss of a child to show them that they are not alone.

“It is the charity’s 10th anniversary this year so we wanted to mark this special occasion by supporting their work with an £8,000 donation which will pay for 100 Butterfly Boxes.

“The Butterfly Boxes are a small gesture, but we are certain they will have a positive impact on bereaved parents.”

The Butterfly Boxes offer practical support and solace to newly bereaved parents, and include items such as a teddy bear, calming candle, tissues, healing crystals, mindfulness book, journal and pen, bereavement book tailored to the family’s loss, a pink/blue heart, and a bereaved parent’s pin badge.

National Bereaved Parents Day will take place on Monday 3rd July to raise awareness for all parents who have lost a child of any age, and from any circumstance. This year’s theme is ‘you are not alone’.

Gayle Routledge, Founder and Chief Executive of A Child of Mine, said: “What can I say. We are absolutely delighted that Southern Co-op is supporting our Butterfly boxes. This donation will make a huge difference to our families in their time of need and will give them some practical resources to help them through their grief. We are so grateful to Southern Co-op for supporting A Child of Mine; as a tiny charity we rely totally on the generosity of the community and this donation really will make a huge impact. Thank you so much!”

As part of Bereaved Parents Day, the charity is encouraging people to light a candle at 7pm which Southern Co-op’s branches of The Co-operative Funeralcare will be joining in with by having candles (battery operated) shining in their windows throughout July.

For more information on the memorial services or book your place, contact the individual venue which can be found at https://southern.coop/store-locator. Or for more information contact Southern Co-op’s free Bereavement Care team on 08081 691922 or via https://bereavementcare.uk/.

More than 14,000 donations made in memory of loved ones

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Just under £700,000 was donated to more than 450 charities in 2022 thanks to people donating in memory of their loved ones.

The donations were made via a free online memorials feature offered by more than 60 Southern Co-op funeral care homes.

In the top ten charities which received the largest overall donation last year, three of them were local including Rowans Hospice in Hampshire which had 961 donations totalling £50,853.

Claire McGinty, Client Experience and Aftercare Manager at Southern Co-op, said: “Each and every one of these donations is thanks to an individual who is grieving for a loved one. This is an incredibly generous thing to do and will clearly make a significant difference to all the causes who have benefitted.

“This is possibly even more touching at the moment when a lot of charities are struggling and need all the support they can get. Thank you to all those who donated.”

Over the last three years, a total of £2,082,095 was donated by families across the south of England via the free online tribute service offered by Southern Co-op.

Michelle Merrison, Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity’s In Memory Giving Manager, said: “We would like to thank everyone who has donated in memory of someone special in 2022. We are always deeply touched when people choose to remember us as they remember and celebrate the life and memories of a loved one and it is an honour to be able to continue to provide our vital services to more families in their names.

“The total received will have covered the equivalent of a month of Day Hospice sessions, providing specialist and individual support to help our patients maintain independence, improve their quality of life and manage their symptoms.”

The platform, supplied by MuchLoved, enables donations to any UK registered charity with no subscription fee which means many small charities can receive vital funding thanks to the generosity of your communities choosing to donate in memory of their loved ones.

Ruth Brady, Fundraising Manager for the Andrew Simpson Foundation, said: “The Andrew Simpson Foundation (ASF) was inspired by Olympic Gold and Silver medallist Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson MBE. Our mission is to transform lives through sailing. Absolutely everything we do is driven by our belief that all young people can excel and succeed in life and work.

“Thank you to all the incredible people who chose to support our work through MuchLoved. The funds raised through MuchLoved enabled the ASF to support over 5,000 young people in 2022.”

Alice Garratt, In Memory & Legacy Fundraiser at Thames Hospice, said: “A dedicated online tribute page can offer great comfort for friends and families to remember and honour a loved one, and fundraising in their memory makes such a difference to support our work.

“We are incredibly grateful to all the families who chose to set up an online tribute page in aid of Thames Hospice last year and a special thanks to Southern Co-op who facilitated tributes which have raised £11,400. This could pay for 253 hours of counselling time, which is six 1 hour sessions for 42 people.”

James Young, Individual Giving Fundraiser at St. Michael’s Hospice, said: “We want to say thank you to everyone who donated in memory of a loved one and helped raise an incredible £16,764.34 for St. Michael’s Hospice.

“These funds will help us provide free compassionate care to our patients and their families across North Hampshire. Thank you so much, we simply can’t do what we do without the kindness and generosity of our supporters.“

Lara Battersby, Communications Officer for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to those who have generously donated in memory of their loved ones to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance during 2022, raising a total of £604.58 in aid of our life-saving service.

“The charity receives no direct funding from the Government or the National Lottery and relies on the generosity of the public to help raise our operational costs of over £5 million per year, so we are incredibly grateful to receive this heartfelt support.”

Alison Taylor, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Chestnut Tree House and St Barnabas Hospices, said: “Thank you so much to all the staff and customers at Southern Co-op who have supported Chestnut Tree House and St Barnabas House throughout 2022. We wouldn’t be able to carry on providing the care we do without the support from our community.”

South coast bereavement centre supports thousands of people in 20 years

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A free bereavement care service is celebrating its 20th anniversary after touching the lives of more than 59,200 people.

The Bereavement Centre, part of the regional co-operative Southern Co-op, was the brainchild of one of its colleagues who worked in its Co-operative Funeralcare services.

After 24 years at Southern Co-op and The Co-operative Funeralcare, Ingrid McAllister-Derry knew there was a need to offer an aftercare service and emotional support for colleagues.

Her boss Steve Pearce, now the Chief Operating Officer for End of Life Services at Southern Co-op, agreed and The Bereavement Centre was launched on May 15 2000.

Ingrid, who is now The Bereavement Manager Care Liaison Officer, said: “It was quite pioneering. I had to learn things as we went along and became a professionally-qualified counsellor.

Ingrid McAllister-Derry in 1994

“We grew the service over the years to offer one-to-one bereavement support for anyone in the community – not just for people who had used our funeral services at The Co-operative Funeralcare. After 11 years, we recruited a bereavement co-ordinator and now have a team of five.”

The Bereavement Centre now provides free support for people suffering with grief and loss face-to-face or via online services such as Skype across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex and select areas of Berkshire, Dorset, Surrey and Wiltshire.

This has also helped to take some pressure off other local mental health services that have long waiting times.

Ingrid McAllister-Derry and Ang Higgins

The team also works with key workers including carers, doctors, nurses and teachers through training sessions to coach them on the practicalities of dealing with a death and loss of any kind. This includes helping medical professionals understand how to help grieving families and give the best bedside manner and support to those suffering.

Steve Pearce said: “Over the past 20 years, Ingrid and her team have supported 24,960 people at their educational sessions and have given wellbeing support to 26,859 people. The help they have provided for people has been invaluable.

“During the current pandemic, the help they have given families and to colleagues has been second-to-none. What was once just an idea, has grown into something that hundreds of people rely on. Thank you Ingrid for everything you and your team have achieved.”

In 2004, Ingrid started a friendship group in Portsmouth, which is still running now with around 35 members.

The team now runs nine Wellbeing support groups in Andover, Bognor Regis, Clayton (near Hassocks), Fareham, Farnborough, Frome, Peacehaven, Portsmouth and Sandown.

It also holds additional workshops covering subjects such as anxiety and loss, resilience, multicultural, mental health and mindfulness. For businesses that need something more bespoke, they can create a workshop to suit these needs as well.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the team has been supporting nursing homes and care in the community as well as giving people virtual help during lockdown with telephone support to the bereaved and care professionals.

Ingrid said: “Part of Southern Co-op’s values is about giving back to the communities in which we serve. How better can this be demonstrated than by providing a free bereavement service for 20 years?

“We believe passionately about giving something back and have quietly done this for all these years. It’s been a real privilege.”

To find out more or to get support, call 08081691922, email info@thebereavementcentre.co.uk or visit www.bereavementcentre.co.uk/.

Charities receive £330,000 in memory of loved ones

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Thousands of donations have been made to local and national charities thanks to the generosity of those who have recently lost a loved one.

A total of 7,455 donations were made in 2019 via a free online memorial feature offered by Southern Co-op, the regional, independent co-operative.

The donations total more than £330,000 – an average of more than £44 per donation.

In 2019, 7,455 donations were made totalling £330,824. This is an increase from 2018 when 6,145 donations were made totalling £266,104 – an average of £43 per donation.

Steve Pearce, Chief Operating Officer for funeralcare at Southern Co-op, said: “The charities people chose to donate to can be a reflection of something their loved one held dear to them or a charity that supported them at a time of need.

“We know that people donated to 351 different charities last year but what we can’t quantify is how many people that went on to help. The donations would have made a difference to thousands of people’s lives and this is incredibly special.”

The online memorial feature also allows friends and family to set up a personal tribute page to light virtual candles, share memories, stories, photos and videos of loved ones.

The top five charities which had the most donations received between £14,000 and £25,000 each.

These included two regional charities Phyllis Tuckwell, which cares for terminally ill people and their families throughout West Surrey and part of North East Hampshire, and Rowans Hospice, which offers specialist palliative care to those with life-limiting illnesses in South East Hampshire.

For more information about online tributes, visit www.funeralcare.co.uk/tributes-and-donations.

£170,000 donated in memory of loved ones

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In the last year, more than 4,200 people have donated money to charity in memory of a loved one via Southern Co-op’s free online memorial feature.

Just under 200 charities have benefited from the contributions as loved ones have asked friends and family to make donations to charities rather than flowers at funerals.

The donations have all been made via Southern Co-op’s memorial webpage, run in partnership with MuchLoved, which launched two years ago in September 2016.

As well as an online donation, the online memorial feature allows friends and family to set up a personal tribute page to light virtual candles, share memories, stories, photos and videos of loved ones.

Steve Pearce, Southern Co-op’s Chief Operating Officer for End of Life Services, said: “Since we launched our online tribute service, we have been blown away by the generosity of those remembering their loved ones. A lot of the chosen charities have meant a great deal to the person who has passed away – such as a hospice or a support service.

“It is really special to see so many local charities being chosen to receive donations in memory of a loved one. We find the tribute pages a really helpful and long-lasting way to help remember someone special.”

In the last year, the average donation made in memory of a loved one has been as much as £40 per donation.

The three charities which had the most donations received more than £10,000 each. These were Cancer Research UK, Phyllis Tuckwell – which cares for terminally ill people and their families throughout West Surrey and part of North East Hampshire, and Rowans Hospice – which offers specialist palliative care to those with life-limiting illnesses in South East Hampshire.

Click here for more information about online tributes.

Join Our Macmillan Coffee Mornings

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Coffee and cake lovers are being invited to join in with Macmillan Coffee Morning events being held across Southern Co-op funeral homes.

The coffee mornings will help raise vital money for people living with cancer and support Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning which has become a British institution over the years.

Last year alone Macmillan raised over £27 million and it is hoped that this will be another successful year.

All of Southern Co-op’s funeral co-ordinators will be taking part in the Macmillan Coffee Morning either by holding their own or supporting their community event.

Events include:

  • Bishops Waltham – Friday 28th September from 9.30 to 11am at Southern Co-op’s Bishops Waltham Funeralcare at 24 High Street, SO32 1AA

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinators Beth and Catrin via 01489 896305 or bishopswalthamfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Bognor Regis and Felpham: Friday 28 September from 11am to 1pm at Southern Co-op’s Rose Green Funeralcare at 6 Nyetimber Lane, Rose Green, PO21 3HG

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinators Shirley and Lindsey via 01243 268681 or rosegreenfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Bracknell – Wednesday 26th September from 1pm to 3pm at Southern Co-op’s Funeralcare at 12 Rectory Row, Easthampstead, RG12 7BN

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinators Nicola and Luci via 01344 454398 or bracknellfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Cosham: Thursday 4th October from 2pm to 5pm at Southern Co-op’s Cosham Funeralcare at 47 High Street, PO6 3AX

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinator Louise Bliss via 02392 383460 or coshamfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Findon: Friday 28th September at Southern Co-op’s Findon Funeralcare at 202 Kings Parade, Findon Road, BN14 0EJ

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinator Debbie via 01903 877035 or findonfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Gosport: Friday 28th September from 10am to 12.00pm at Southern Co-op’s Gosport Funeralcare at 147 Stoke Road, PO12 1SE

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinator Kyela via 02392 581032 or gosportfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Isle of Wight – Wednesday 3rd October from 12pm to 2pm at Southern Co-op’s Funeralcare in Avenue Road, Freshwater, PO40 9NP

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinators Sue and Eve via 01983 756503 or freshwaterfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Isle of Wight: Wednesday 31st October from 1pm to 5pm at Co-op’s Funeralcare in St Johns Road, Ryde, PO33 2RN

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinators Sam and Lesley via 01983 615746 or rydefuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Liss – Wednesday 26th September from 10am to 12pm at Southern Co-op’s Liss Funeralcare at 3 Lower Mead, Hillbrow Road, GU33 7RL in branch

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinator Karen via 01730 895593 or lissfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk.

  • Portsmouth – Friday 28th September from 10am to 12pm at Southern Co-op’s Fratton Funeralcare at 157 Fratton Road, PO1 5ER

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinators Sally and Claire via 02392 863031 or frattonfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Portsmouth – Friday 28th September from 9am to 12am at Southern Co-op’s Paulgrove Funeralcare at 181 Allaway Avenue, PO6 4HG

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinator Joanne via 023 9237 2106 or paulsgrovefuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Portsmouth – Friday 28th September from 10am to 1pm at Southern Co-op’s Southsea Funeralcare at 128 Albert Road, PO4 0JS

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinators Lucy and Laura via 02392 832151 or southseafuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Shaftesbury – Friday 28th September from 10am to 12pm at the Town Hall

Contact: Shaftesbury Town Council via 01747 852420 or enquiries@shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk

  • Shoreham – Tuesday 2nd October from 11am to 2pm at Caring Lady Funeral Directors at 68 High Street, BN43 5DB

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinator Claire via 01273 464647 or shoreham@caringladyfuneraldirector.co.uk

  • Uckfield: Friday 28th September from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Southern Co-op’s Uckfield Funeralcare at 65 High Street, TN22 1AP

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinators Nicola and Jan via 01825 764125 or uckfieldfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

  • Westbury and Warminster: Wednesday 3rd October from 10am to 12pm at Southern Co-op’s Warminster Funeralcare at 3 George Street, BA12 8QA

Contact: Funeral Co-ordinators Michelle and Nick via 01373 858142 or Westburyfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk

Find your nearest Southern Co-op Funeralcare.

Funeral Home Donates Money to Mobile Chemotherapy Charity for Local Cancer Patients

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Local cancer patients are set to benefit from a £408.27 donation from The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare in Westbury to the mobile chemotherapy charity, Hope for Tomorrow.

The money, raised by the funeral home on Warminster Road, will purchase a new drip stand for the South Wiltshire Unit “Kayleigh” that brings cancer treatment closer to patients’ homes through a mobile chemotherapy service.

Michelle Meadows, Funeral Co-ordinators for The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare in Westbury said:

“At The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare in Westbury, supporting those who live in our community is extremely important to us. When we heard that Hope for Tomorrow was in need of a new drip stand, we were inspired to fundraise the money to help all of the people in Westbury who rely on the mobile chemotherapy unit for their recovery against such a challenging illness.”

The funeral home raised the money through a variety of bake sales taking place in the foyer of the White Horse Health Centre, Westbury, where the mobile chemotherapy unit visits once a week. The cakes were sold through donation only – with one generous member of the public paying £10 for a delicious slice of sponge cake.

The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare in Westbury have been long-term supporters of the Hope for Tomorrow charity, regularly fundraising for the cause as well as donating snacks and magazines to the mobile unit each month and for Awareness Days in the community.

Catherine Wade, Regional Fundraiser for Hope For Tomorrow said:

“We are extremely grateful for The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare for their continued interest in our work and that of the community of Westbury. Through their support and generosity, we are able to raise the profile of Hope for Tomorrow and make the treatment just that bit easier for the community to access.

“The South Wiltshire unit “Kayleigh” was launched in 2012 and treats patients closer to home in Westbury, Gillingham, Ludgershall & Fordingbridge to save them the often long and regular journey to Salisbury District Hospital.

“Anyone wishing to support our appeal for support in keeping “Kayleigh” on the road for patients to access cancer services in their community should contact catherinewade@hopefortomorrow.org.uk”

Local Samaritan Crowned ‘Westbury’s Best Neighbour’

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Local Samaritan, Chris Saunders has been crowned winner of ‘Westbury’s Best Neighbour’ run by The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare for the kindness and support freely given to his neighbours and time devoted to the wider Westbury community.

To commemorate their two year anniversary, The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare on Warminster Road, Westbury launched the competition to celebrate those who help make a difference within their local community. The presentation took place at the funeral home with snacks, a celebration cake and plenty of celebration.

Mr Saunders, the ‘Best Neighbour’ in Westbury said: “In a word, I was flabbergasted to receive the title! My wife, Esme and I have always tried to help Mrs Clegg and her husband whenever they have needed it, by driving them to appointments, helping with shopping or little things like bringing in their bins. It is extremely humbling to know Mrs Clegg nominated me as Westbury’s Best Neighbour, particularly as it is for tasks that one would hope others would facilitate in the same position as us.”

The Mayor of Westbury, Councillor David Bradshaw, who presented Mr Saunders with the title said: “I have personally known Chris Saunders for two or three years due to our joint involvement in the Westbury’s Probus Association. During this time, Chris has always shown himself to be a caring individual and I am please that Chris has received the ‘Best Neighbour Award’. In my opinion, he is a very worthy recipient! Well done Chris!”

Supporting and engaging with local communities is an integral part of The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare’s working ethos. Throughout 2015, The Southern Co-operative’s food stores and funeral homes contributed over £955,000 to local communities and good causes through fundraising events, campaigns and donations.

Karen Coleman, Funeral Co-ordinator for The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare in Westbury who created the Award, said:

“At The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare, we are true champions of supporting and getting involved with our local community and the ‘Westbury’s Best Neighbour’ competition was a fantastic way to showcase the amazing people who live here. Over the years, Mr Saunders has selflessly aided his neighbour through a variety of tasks and we felt that he was an extremely deserving winner!”

Chris Saunders, won both the title of being ‘Westbury’s Best Neighbour’ and also received a bumper hamper of goodies from The Southern Co-operative with vouchers that can be spent in any of The Southern Co-operative’s food stores.

L-R: Michelle Meadows, The Southern Co-operative Funeral Co-ordinator; The Mayor of Westbury, Councillor David Bradshaw; Jayne Keitch, The Southern Co-operative Funeral Co-ordinator; Chris Saunders, Westbury’s Best Neighbour; Mayoress, Myra Bradshaw and Karen Coleman, The Southern Co-operative Funeral Co-ordinator.
L-R: Michelle Meadows, The Southern Co-operative Funeral Co-ordinator; The Mayor of Westbury, Councillor David Bradshaw; Jayne Keitch, The Southern Co-operative Funeral Co-ordinator; Chris Saunders, Westbury’s Best Neighbour; Mayoress, Myra Bradshaw and Karen Coleman, The Southern Co-operative Funeral Co-ordinator.

Co-operative Funeralcare Colleagues Complete Ten Mile Walk for Disabled Children

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Colleagues from The Co-operative Funeralcare homes in Frome, Warminster and Westbury completed a ten mile walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal to raise £346.72 for the disabled children’s charity, Whizz-Kidz.

There are an estimated 70,000 disabled children and young people in the UK waiting for a wheelchair that fits their young lives. A national charity which operates with a local focus, Whizz-Kidz provides disabled children with the essential wheelchairs and other mobility equipment they need to lead fun and active childhoods.

Karen Coleman, Funeral Co-ordinator for The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare in Westbury said:

“We decided to be quite ambitious with our fundraiser for Whizz-Kidz and embark on a lengthy ten mile walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal. The first five miles were great – the weather was kind and pleasant to us – however for the second half of the walk, the heavens opened up and we got completely drenched! It was all worth it and we remained in high spirits as our sponsored walk managed to raise over £300 for Whizz-Kidz”.

 

Colleagues from The Southern Co-operative funeral homes in Frome, Warminster and Westbury walked ten miles to raise money for disabled children’s charity, Whizz-Kidz.
Colleagues from The Southern Co-operative funeral homes in Frome, Warminster and Westbury walked ten miles to raise money for disabled children’s charity, Whizz-Kidz.

The ten mile walk formed part of The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare’s service-wide fundraiser hoping to conclude their charity partnership with Whizz-Kidz, with a bang, adding a cash boost to the £335,000 already raised by The Southern Co-operative.

The fundraiser, ‘Release the Piece’, involves all 59 branches and services from The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare receiving one section of a giant jigsaw puzzle, to ‘Release the Piece’ of the puzzle and to help it form the overall jigsaw image, each branch and service must host a fundraiser in aid of the disabled children’s charity, Whizz-Kidz.

Amanda Wilkinson, Director of Fundraising for Whizz-Kidz said:

“My huge thanks to the colleagues of The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare for their support for Whizz-Kidz. We’re delighted that so many colleagues are getting involved in the ‘Release the Piece’ fundraising challenge, aiming to help the partnership raise an additional £5,000. This fantastic sum is enough to enable us to provide a disabled child with a life-changing powered wheelchair, giving them the freedom and independence they need to enjoy a fun, active childhood.”

Throughout March and April, all 59 branches and services, including their funeral homes, florist, crematorium, masonry and natural burial ground, will be holding local fundraisers, ranging from a colleague car wash with cake, a Race Night, samba band busking and book sales. Once each branch has held its fundraiser, the jigsaw puzzle will be put together by an ambassador from Whizz-Kidz who will announce the total raised for the charity.

Amanda continued:

“The right wheelchair is just the start, The Southern Co-operative is also raising funds to help us deliver our skills training, youth groups, residential camps, and work skills programmes, helping young disabled people gain the skills and opportunities they need to reach their true potential.”