Staff at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers are over the moon with the amount they have raised for Francis House Children's Hospice with a staggering £23,800.00* being donated to the Didsbury-based children’s charity.
Pearson Solicitors is now at the end of a successful two-year partnership with Francis House which was nominated by staff at the law firm. All offices in Oldham, Hollinwood, Failsworth, and Milnrow have been involved in the mammoth effort.
Throughout the two years, staff members have participated in various fundraising events including The Saddleworth Three Peak walking challenge.
FRANCIS HOUSE CHILDREN'S HOSPICE
Francis House is a unique facility providing respite care, home care, sibling support, end-of-life care, and bereavement support to over 600 families across Greater Manchester including Oldham, Bury, and Rochdale.
The firm also participated in a Will Month Campaign with their legal experts donating their time for free by preparing Wills for clients. After completing the Wills, clients made a charitable donation instead of paying for the legal service.
The charity’s Chick Appeal is always popular at Pearson with staff and their families getting involved in knitting the little chicks and donating a mountain of crème eggs which the charity sells. In 2024, the Chick Appeal alone is expected to raise over £65,000 for Francis House.
During the festive period, staff donated chocolates and gifts including toys, books, and over 250 advert calendars to provide some festive cheer.
Pearson helps the hospice by raising awareness about any upcoming events and fundraisers by sharing news on their social media platforms and informing clients on the value of leaving a legacy to a charity which is a key part of the fee income needed to run the facility.
Pearson Solicitors, Director and Practice Manager Joanne Ormston said:
“Over the two-year partnership, we have worked closely with Julie Williams and Susie Poppit who are Fundraising Officers at Francis House, and we have got to know a lot about the hospice. The work they do is so important to those who unfortunately find themselves in need of their services.
“I attended Francis House to present Julie and Susie with a cheque and my visit coincided with their ‘Open Day’ which they run twice a year. I had a tour of the facility and felt overwhelmed by the peace I experienced. The hospice has a warm and friendly atmosphere, it is not clinical in any way, which is a comfort to the children and parents using the service.”
FEEDBACK FROM FRANCIS HOUSE
Fundraising Officer Julie Williams commented:
“We are delighted with the amount donated by Pearson Solicitors. The services we provide are costly with our annual running costs exceeding £4.8 million.
“We receive only 15% from the government so the support we get from organisations such as Pearson is vital.”