Childbase Partnership raise over £36,000 for charity throughout September

Having launched a ‘35k Step Challenge’ to mark the occasion and raise funds for the worthy cause, colleagues and families across the 44 award-winning nursery settings and Head Office were able to interpret the brief in their own way, with efforts ranging from 350km bike rides to six-hour team treks through the Peak District.

At Willows Day Nursery in Aylesbury, 13 members of the team took on the 10k Chiltern Ultra Challenge, raising £1,150 for their efforts, whilst nearby in Luton, children from Seabrook Day Nursery enjoyed a sponsored walk around their nursery garden, raising a huge £2008 for the charity, with donations from proud parents and generous supporters.

At Edwinstowe Close Day Nursery in Cambridge, a seven-strong group of colleagues embarked on the Seven Bridges Walk in London, with Amanda Derouich, Shelagh Manners, Chantelle Adams, Libia Begum, Emma Bundy, Leah Davison and Emma Sterecki totalling 115,220 steps and raising over £600, joined by company mascot ‘Harry the Hippo’.

Hayley Smith, Nursery Practitioner from Field House Day Nursery in Buckingham explained: “We had a lovely month raising money for the British Heart Foundation to celebrate 35 years of Childbase. Just over two years ago I lost my husband unexpectedly to a cardiac arrest, he was only 55, fit and healthy with a physical job and no apparent symptoms.

"It was a devastating shock to myself and our children, so I’m proud and thankful for every penny being raised by our nurseries to help people with heart problems, as well as researching new cures so less families have to experience loss.”

Over their 35-year history, Childbase Partnership has raised over 3.5 million for charities including The Trussell Trust, Mind, Bliss, CRUK and Alzheimer's Society, with colleagues able to nominate and vote for their new ‘Charity of the Year’ annually, as well as having the chance to take paid volunteer days to give back to the causes that matter most to them.

Childbase Partnership CEO, Emma Rooney explained: “We aim to make a real difference when it comes to supporting worthy causes and this one is very close to our hearts. Every day around 13 babies in the UK are diagnosed with congenital heart disease. With the British Heart Foundation, we have the opportunity to improve the quality of life for these babies and the support available to their families”.

“Our colleagues and families set the most incredible example to the children of what it means to be kind, and year after year we are blown away by their generosity in supporting people in need.”

As part of the festivities, colleagues also had the opportunity to take part in a huge prize giveaway to thank them for their continued dedication to the company and children in their care, with five ‘once in a lifetime trips’ up for grabs to destinations including New York, Dubai, Berlin, Scotland and London, as well as gifts including cheese hampers and beauty boxes.