charity donation Archives - Destination Chesterfield

Designer Contracts donates over £100,000 to Ashgate Hospicecare

27th January 2021

Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, has donated more than £100,000 to Chesterfield-based Ashgate Hospicecare.

The company ran an online Christmas prize draw to raise funds for the hospice which has been hit hard by the pandemic and then added a £100,000 donation to the £4,865 raised from the competition. It is the second time Designer Contracts has stepped in to help the hospice which provides care and support for families, patients and carers across North Derbyshire.

In 2019 the company gave £100,000 to help fund the hospice’s ‘Three Bedded Bay Appeal’ which was launched to raise money for renovations to its patient bays.

This year’s Christmas prize draw involved contributors making a donation of £3 to enter, with a chance of winning one of eight prizes, including a flat screen TV, Dyson hoover and iPads.

Designer Contracts md, Peter Kelsey, said: “Charities had a really rough ride in 2020 and we wanted to help in any way we could. The hospice has struggled to raise funds as many of its initiatives were cancelled due to the pandemic so our own company fundraising and donations were money well spent for us.

“Everyone over at Ashgate works tirelessly to ensure the hospice is a peaceful and comfortable place for patients and their families so we really hope that this donation will take a little bit of the worry and pressure off the team.”

Barbara-Anne Walker, Chief Executive at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “Thank you to Designer Contracts and to everyone who took part in their Christmas prize draw. We are thrilled and astounded by their continued generosity, particularly at a time when we are losing money due to the closure of our shops and the postponement of our fundraising events.

“Every pound donated will help to make a difference to the lives of families across North Derbyshire who are living with the impacts of a life-limiting illness. Each year we must raise over £7 million to keep delivering our crucial palliative and end-of-life care services.

“That is a huge amount of money to raise and it is only possible because of the support from generous organisations like Designer Contracts.”

Designer Contracts, which was recently named as a finalist in the 2020 Lloyds Bank Business Awards, operates across 15 UK regional facilities. As well as flooring, the company provides curtains and blinds, furniture and lighting, and operates a showhome interior design services division.

Designer Contracts and Ashgate Hospicecare support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Festive cheer for foodbank after Specsavers steps in to cover charity’s Christmas costs

15th December 2020

The founder of a Chesterfield-based foodbank has thanked her local Specsavers store after the team stepped in to cover the operating costs over Christmas.

Kelly Hall from The Chesterfield Food Hut launched the charity earlier this year in the wake of the pandemic, to provide food parcels for vulnerable people across Chesterfield and surrounding areas.
However, the group was struggling in recent weeks to meet the increased demand over the festive period. With costs spiralling, the Specsavers’ team agreed to donate £2,750 to help cover the charity’s overheads until February 2021.

Specsavers Chesterfield’s store director, Allissa Charlesworth, launched the fundraising campaign this week with her store colleagues after concerns the charity would struggle to meet demand for those unable to make ends meet over Christmas.

The money will be put towards covering costs and providing 250 hot meals per week to the vulnerable as well as the charity’s Christmas appeal to provide disadvantaged local children a present each.

Allissa says: ‘Kelly’s work is nothing short of remarkable and her unfaltering commitment to helping those in need across the area was something we immediately recognised and wanted to play a part in.

‘Budgets are often squeezed over this period at the best of times, but it must be really hard for families this year to cope with a Covid-Christmas.

‘We’re delighted that we can help fund the charity’s great work over the busy Christmas period, and we’ll be holding an in-store food and present donation drive to support the group further.’

Kelly Hall says: ‘2020 has been such a tough year for all of us, which is why I’m really proud to have been able to make a difference through the initiative.

‘The support from Specsavers, along with the other generous donations that we receive from our community, will really help to make sure we can continue this work well into the New Year.’

Specsavers stores throughout England remain open for all eye care and hearing needs in accordance with government guidelines. In line with NHS recommendations, Specsavers colleagues use personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the stores, wear face masks and other PPE during tests, and all testing equipment and frames are thoroughly sanitised before and after each use.

Customers are also asked to request an appointment in advance by phone or online through the Specsavers website to help manage social distancing and minimise time spent in store.

To book an eye test at Specsavers Chesterfield visit specsavers.co.uk or call 01246 222 334