COMMUNITY
ONE STOP
One Stop raises a record amount for Children in Need Almost of the symbol group’s stores took part in the fundraising appeal.
O
ne Stop has raised more than £130,000 for Children in Need in just six weeks, smashing fundraising campaigns from previous years. The symbol group started its Children in Need fundraising appeal a month early, with almost every store across its 900 core and franchise estate taking part. Liz Fox, Head of Sustainability & Social Responsibility at One Stop, said: “The stores themselves came up with a huge array of fundraising ideas from tombolas and fancy-dress days, to ‘sponge the store manager’ and raffles. We also had ideas generated at head
office, including a ‘Pedal for Pudsey’ cycling challenge where stores each had a different target – some 100 miles, some teams doing 300. They did their cycling instore – via static bikes - or within the community, all helping to raise awareness and funds. “We’ve also had stores working together including colleagues across three stores from Sheffield who raised over £2,000 in six hours at Meadowhall Shopping Centre. They did such a great job that they even inspired the centre to turn the roof yellow with lights to celebrate Children in Need.” Money raised will be able to stay
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locally to where each store is based as Children in Need has a postcode locator enabling donations to go straight to causes within their own areas. In addition, One Stop has a large range of merchandise that it sells to help raise money, including a water bottle and crystal-encrusted gold Pudsey Bear pens. Many stores also had merchandise featuring Pudsey Bear’s girlfriend Blush. Fox added: “Our stores have proved that together we can make a difference and the passion and drive I’ve seen has been absolutely brilliant. We’re beaming with pride that we’ve been able to raise this amount which will go such a long way to helping children who so desperately need it.”
