Flippin' great fun raising thousands for children's air ambulance

Staff at childcare and education provider, Childbase Partnership celebrated Pancake Day at their head office with a fund-raising effort that pushes their charity total to a record £2,380 in just over three months.

The team were flipping and eating pancakes prepared by chef Barbara Harris at the offices in Northampton Road, part of the employee-owned company with 44 day nurseries throughout the South of England.

Rachel Jackson, Childbase charity representative, said the cause - which provides rapid responses times to trauma and medical emergencies for children and babies – was adopted for a year-long fund-raising drive following an overwhelming vote companywide.

She said: “It really is an extraordinary charity which survives entirely on charitable donations. There is only one helicopter covering the entire country which means babies and children in need of this specialist help are literally at risk. That is unacceptable for us, and our colleagues in nursery, who are looking after over 5,000 babies and children.”

Fundraising events are staged every month – from dress up and down days to crafting activities - with head office staff also donating to the cause for their company-provided lunches.

Rachel added: “The children in our nurseries aren’t the only ones having fun and I have been surprised by the creativity in head office. We are all really enjoying fund-raising for a great cause.”