Despite limitations on fundraising events over the last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Deloitte Guernsey has managed to raise over £5000 for charity partner Grow.
In May 2019, Deloitte began a three-year partnership with the Guernsey Rural Occupational Workshop as part of Deloitte’s Five Million Futures initiative. Aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Deloitte’s Five Million Futures initiative focuses on reducing inequality and helping people to overcome barriers to education and employment.
Founded by the Guernsey Society for the Mentally Handicapped (now Guernsey Mencap), Grow has been providing development and support to individuals who are learning disabled, physically disabled or suffering from mental health issues for 35 years.
Grow provides a safe and secure sheltered environmental workshop where individuals are given the opportunity of supported employment or attendance training within traditional horticulture and craft-related activities, as well as retail.
The charity has recently received planning permission to redevelop their site, which will enable them to increase the number of people they can support and instruct them in a wider range of skills, including wood and metalworking, catering and retail, as well as horticulture and garden maintenance.
Throughout the year, Deloitte in Guernsey has raised over £5000 for Grow from fundraising activities, such as Wear Your Wellies To Work Day, flag day and charity raffles. The total includes contributions from the Deloitte NSE firm, which donated £1,400 in July and then a further £1,000 in October via the Charities Age Foundation, in recognition of this year’s challenging financial circumstances.
Jo Huxtable, Partner at Deloitte Guernsey, said: “The coronavirus pandemic created unprecedented challenges for us all and local charities especially need our support more than ever. We were delighted to help our local charity partner Grow to survive and thrive beyond Covid-19. Grow provides an outstanding facility in terms of the education and training they give to the individuals, the respite this gives to carers and families as well as the wider benefits in the community promoting sustainable practices”.
