IN BIZ NC APRIL MAY 2021.qxp_A4 size 24/03/2021 10:24 Page 31
MEMBER ZONE
MEMBERZONE Latest news from NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CHAMBER MEMBERS including award wins, relocations, appointments, new contracts, member profiles, mergers, company expansion plans, sponsorship deals and business success stories
CHARITY OFFERS PATIENTS HOPE Award-winning cancer support charity The Lewis Foundation has used the latest lockdown to focus on planning for the future and supporting more patients than ever before. Lorraine and Lee Lewis launched the charity in April 2016, and began sourcing, packaging and hand delivering free gifts and support packs, called ‘Bags of Hope’ to adult cancer patients at Northampton General Hospital, Three Shires and Kettering General Hospital every week. Each bag ‘OUR FOCUS contains items patients THIS YEAR IS ON might find difficult to buy themselves or SUSTAINABILITY simply cannot afford. – MAKING SURE As the charity’s WE’RE HERE FOR fifth birthday YEARS TO COME’ hospitals in approaches, its Luton, Milton appealing for more Keynes, Nottingham support and help to fund and Northamptonshire. its gift bags. Our focus this year is on Lorraine explained: “Since we sustainability – making sure we’re launched, we’ve distributed more here for years to come. “ than 63,000 gift packs to 10
Lorraine and Lee Lewis with Lee’s mum Janice (centre)
The charity is appealing to businesses to help them pay for and source all the products they need for their gift packs, which cost an average of £3.50 each. The packs range from arts and crafts to pamper packs, sweets, and
activities, with the contents ranging from colouring books and puzzles to letter writing sets, hand cream, books and magazines. The Lewis Foundation is also seeking storage, with its own entrance. This space is for storing donations, gift packs, a marquee and to provide somewhere for volunteers to make up the packs. It is also seeking a contribution towards the running costs of its van which comes to about £550 a month. In exchange for help, The Lewis Foundation will promote supporters through press releases, blogs, and social media campaigns and by using supporters’ logos on their website. The charity has won many accolades including, in 2020, a British Citizen Award, ‘Rising Star’ at the East Midlands Charity Awards and Points of Light award, awarded by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Email: thelewisfoundation@outlook.com
MAKING THE MOST OF MEMBERSHIP Joining the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce has given one businesswoman even more focus for 2021 - as the demand for Virtual Assistant services continues to skyrocket. Alchemy Virtual Assistance (VA) executive hub manager ‘I CAN’T Sarah Damani has seen a record number of client enquiries from a variety of businesses, with numbers across the WAIT TO START wider Alchemy VA group having quadrupled since CovidWORKING MORE 19 hit. Alchemy VA Hub manager Sarah Damani CLOSELY WITH Sarah’s thriving Wellingborough VA Hub has been with her team of virtual assistants LOTS OF bringing calm to the chaos during this extraordinary period by providing remote administration services, CHAMBER marketing and flexible PA support to entrepreneurs and “Joining the Chamber was always my plan. Chamber MEMBERS’ business owners countywide and beyond. members and Northamptonshire business owners Her dynamic team of handpicked, high calibre virtual assistants deserve the headspace to do the work they love during this are helping her manage the increasing workload, but she has big plans challenging time, especially as many are working harder than for 2021 – and making the most of her Chamber membership is at the top of ever to get back on track – but they don’t have to do it alone. the list. “As VAs we have connections and expertise across a diverse range of “I set up my franchise with the award-winning Alchemy VA family just sectors. I can’t wait to start working more closely with lots of Chamber 14 months ago and with Covid-19 it’s been a whirlwind,” said Sarah, who members and helping even more businesses streamline and organise also renovated a tailor-made home office space last Autumn and left her their admin.” secure job as a business advisor to focus entirely on growing her Alchemy VA franchise. Visit: www.alchemyva.co.uk
APRIL/MAY 2021 inbusiness 31
