Bracknell BID and BID area businesses are supporting the local community through various charity initiatives, raising funds to support those in need during the Christmas season.
Bracknell BID will be donating £2,000 to local charities this month to support those most in need and provide essential aid this Christmas. The four charities, DEBRA, Shopmobility, Absolutely Together, and Bracknell Foodbank will each receive £500. To read more about the donations, the press release can be seen here.
Absolutely Together
Absolutely Fitness, part of the Absolutely Together Group, is a gym based on Easthampstead Road in the BID area and also provide Spinning Classes free for BID area workers. Absolutely Together provides free leisure sessions to families with disabilities or additional needs free of charge. The donation will allow them to put on extra sessions over the Christmas period.
Bracknell Foodbank
Bracknell Foodbank provides emergency food and support to local people who are referred in a crisis. They are based on Church Road in Bracknell’s Town Centre. For the past three years, the BID has consistently backed the Christmas food bank with cumulative donations exceeding £1,500. This year’s contribution will enable them to assist local residents during the festive period.
DEBRA
DEBRA is the national charity that funds research and healthcare to support individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – a painful genetic skin blistering condition which, in the worst cases, can be fatal. Their head office is based within the Capitol Building on Oldbury, within the BID area. Having contributed £500 to DEBRA last Christmas, the BID is once again making a donation this year. This funding will provide families affected by EB with access to specialist healthcare and will support them with the expenses associated with essential appointments.
Bracknell Shop Mobility
Shop Mobility is a nationwide network of centres which hire out mobility equipment to the public – manual wheelchairs, power chairs and mobility scooters to allow people with restricted mobility some independence. They are hired out at low cost or free to all ages with temporary or permanent mobility impairments, as well as people with temporary illness and injury. Shop Mobility also have a shop based in The Lexicon in Bracknell, with a wide array of classes, activities, events for the community to meet socially. The donation will provide local people with restricted mobility access to equipment and mobility services.
Bracknell BID & Sebastian’s Action Trust Christmas Giving Tree
Bracknell BID has teamed up with Bracknell-based Sebastian’s Action Trust on a ‘Giving Tree’ where businesses have been encouraged to ditch Secret Santa and instead buy toys or experiences for the charity’s supported children and families.
More than 200 gifts were donated from employees across the Southern and Western Business Areas to help make a meaningful difference to those in need. Employees from 329 Bracknell, Norbain, Printroom Group, Maxis Business Park, The Lightbox, Waitrose Distribution, Midwich, and Westcon Comstor took part in the initiative.
The recipients are children who are living with a critical illness which in turn involves many hospital visits, invasive procedures and don’t have the opportunity to enjoy a typical childhood. Their families often experience financial hardship and without the Giving Tree, these children may not otherwise receive a gift or day out at Christmas.
Sebastian’s Action Trust are a local Bracknell Forest charity that provides emotional, social and practical care for life-limited and life-threatened children and their families.
Bracknell BID area businesses raise thousands for local charitable causes this Christmas
Throughout the Christmas season, businesses in the Bracknell BID area have been actively fundraising for charity through a range of initiatives. Over the past month, they have successfully raised thousands of pounds for numerous local causes. Below are some of the exciting charity fundraisers and events BID area businesses have been involved in, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the local community and giving back during this festive period.
BID area businesses celebrate Christmas Jumper Day
Many Bracknell BID area businesses were spreading cheer and raising funds for Save the Children UK by wearing their favourite festive apparel on Christmas Jumper Day, Thursday 7th December.
Employees at 329 Bracknell, Maxis Business Park, Printroom Group, Capitol Building, TEKsystems, Overbury, Morgan Lovell, Selwood, DEBRA, and Arlington Square can be seen wearing their Christmas Jumper and festive hats for Christmas Jumper Day. For more information on how you can be involved with Save the Children UK, click here.
Capitol Building held a Christmas Fair and donation drive for St Mungo’s
The Capitol Building, situated on Oldbury in the Southern Business area, organised a donation drive for its tenants to contribute various items during November and December. The collected items were earmarked for St Mungo’s, a charity committed to assisting homeless individuals.
At Capitol Building’s Christmas Fair, participating tenants took part in wrapping presents, which included essentials ranging from socks and toiletries. These gifts are now prepared for distribution to those who are most in need this Christmas.
For more information on how you can be involved with St Mungo’s, click here.
Maxis Business Park’s various charity initiatives this Christmas
Maxis Business Park, located on Western Road in the Western Business Area, hosted various charity initiatives for tenants to get involved in over the festive period.
Maxis Business Park supported Launchpad, a homeless charity, by collecting toiletries and other essentials for the homeless. Launchpad is Reading’s leading homelessness prevention charity, providing vital information and support for individuals, couples and families who don’t have a stable place to live or are at risk of losing their home. For more information on how you can be involved with Launchpad, click here.
Maxis Business Park hosted their annual Christmas market, for occupiers to browse market stalls made up of local small businesses, plus festive food and live Christmas songs. Maxis Business Park also held a wreath making workshop, paid for by Frasers Property UK, with the tenants donating money to take part, raising £472 for charity.
Maxis Business Park also took part in their annual Christmas Giving Tree appeal, with tenants donating presents to Sebastian’s Action Trust, in line with the BID’s Giving Tree initiative.