Each year, Nelsons support three charities local to our offices, and this year, our employees have chosen me&dee as our Derby office charity, Headway Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland as our Leicester charity, and the Rosie May Foundation as our Nottingham charity.
Our Chief Executive, Stewart Vandermark, said:
“Nelsons has been supporting local charities on an annual basis across the East Midlands for several years now. It’s something that’s become embedded in our culture and very close to our hearts – particularly at a time when charities are still feeling the after-effects of the pandemic.
“There are so many local charities doing incredible work that often fly under the radar. Therefore, our aim isn’t just to raise money, but it’s to also raise awareness of them and the people that work so hard behind the scenes.”
me&dee
Founded by Maria Hanson MBE in 2006, me&dee has since supported more than 3,000 families who are going through difficult and uncertain times across the region by providing them with a holiday to create memories and have much-needed time together that they wouldn’t otherwise have.
The charity has its own ‘Hideaway’, within Sherwood Forest, providing families with a quiet and tranquil setting away from the hospital environment where they can be a family again. Its mission is to ensure families who are going through tough times are gifted with memories they can treasure.
Maria Hanson MBE, the founder of me&dee, said:
“When I received an email from Nelsons that we had been chosen as their nominated charity for the coming year it was a huge surprise – we had no idea, and we are absolutely over the moon.
“Extra fundraising allows us to help more families and means we don’t have to turn anyone away. Nelsons’ support will help us with the extra families sent to us by Rainbow Hospice and Derby Hospital and will ultimately result in more families being able to spend valuable time together.
“We are so incredibly proud to have the support from Nelsons in our charity and what we do, and we look forward to working with them this year.”
Headway Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland
Founded in 1980, Headways’ Leicester branch opened ten years later with only one member of staff. Now it has grown tenfold, still furthering the mission of promoting an understanding of all aspects of brain injury by providing information, support, and services to survivors, their families, and carers.
It wants to campaign to reduce the incidence of brain injury after statistics showed that, in the year 2019-2020, approximately 977 acquired brain injuries were admitted into UK hospitals per day – or one roughly every 90 seconds.
Mary Goulty, services director at Headway Leicester, said:
“We’re delighted that Nelsons has chosen us to be one of their three nominated charities for the coming year. The people they help with their services are often people we can help too – that’s why we believe this partnership is one that will be beneficial to all.
“Their funding will make a huge difference and will really help us to offer greater support, as well as enabling us to afford improved resources and even a specialist occupational therapist.
“We’re very grateful for their support and the difference it will make.”
Rosie May Foundation
Mary and Graham Storrie created the Rosie May Foundation in 2004 after their daughter was murdered at the age of ten. Its vision has been to ensure a world where every child grows up in a safe, nurturing family with a positive future. Over the past 12 years, the charity has grown exponentially, with international projects such as the Rosie May Home, which was opened to support girls who were impacted by the 2004 Asian tsunami.
Nicola Brien, corporate partnerships manager at the Rosie May Foundation, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to have gained Nelsons’ support for the year. We’re so excited that they have chosen to become a part of our cause by helping us with fundraising events.
“During the pandemic, the Rosie May Foundation stepped in to help the most vulnerable within our community, initially volunteers delivered food and medical supplies in the charity’s little pink tuk-tuk Rosie, but when realising the devastating effect the pandemic was having on mental health, we began coffee and cake doorstep chats to help combat loneliness. Our support became a lifeline and our work has continued post-pandemic to help overcome the anxiety still felt by so many.
“The money Nelsons raises may go towards continuing with this. Equally, this kind of support could be of great benefit to some of our schemes abroad such as providing preschool education to young girls in Sri Lanka.
“We’re looking forward to working with Nelsons, supporting them with their fantastic fundraising and together making a positive impact upon the lives of others.”
Our charity fundraising efforts in 2021/22
Last year, our staff chose to support Stonebridge City Farm, Alex’s Wish, and Macmillan Cancer Support and raised more than £3,300 in total for the charities.
Stewart added:
“After another successful year of fundraising, we are looking forward to finding more new and interesting ways to raise vital funds for our nominated charities. I always feel incredibly proud of the number of people who want to get involved and, as always, we already have a few ideas in the pipeline to kickstart the year.”