Our Charity Work
Between our Church Robinson and Jones Robinson offices, we have raised thousands of pounds for charities since inception in 1998. This year we are continuing to support Loose Ends in Newbury, Julia’s House in Devizes, and Naomi House & Jacksplace in Winchester.
In 2023 we raised a whopping £17,557 for these deserving charities with various events, details of which are below.
We want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone that helped last year and who continue to contribute to our amazing charities! Everyone’s generous donations will make a huge difference to those in need.
Keep an eye out for news of our charity fund raising for 2024-5 soon!
OUR PREVIOUS EVENTS...
80s vs. 90s Disco: November 2023
In November 2023, we hosted an 80s/90s Disco Night for staff, friends and families with some memorable fancy dress costumes – Newbury’s Sara Robinson won best dressed female as a punk rocker and Didcot’s Dawn Pannell’s son won best dressed male as Beetlejuice - both were scarily brilliant! We held a raffle and auction with some fabulous prizes donated from many local businesses, listed below – and raised over £3,000 on the night!
Thank you to these local champions who all donated to our raffle and auction: Genmar, local artist Dermot Robinson from Maxx Design, Chilis Indian Restaurant, DHC Solicitors, Rich Coombes, A & J Cleaning, Newbury Racecourse, Beale Park, Bucklebury Farm Park, The Bowlers Arms, Broadway Butchers, The Red House, Willow & Blooms Florist, Wiltshire Liqueur Co, The Elcot Hotel, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Freemans Flowers, The Old Boot Inn, Blind Maggot Unique Clothing Company, Mio Fiore and local artist, Nicola Eastell.
Sleeping Out for Homelessness: October 2023
On a chilly October night in 2023, 17 team members took part in our ‘Sleeping out for Homelessness’ when they braved the cold and slept outside our Newbury office in Inches Yard from 7pm to 7am, to raise awareness and funds for those facing homelessness. It was an enlightening experience that left a lasting impact on everyone involved.
Participant Jo Woolley shared her insights: "It was a tough night, especially for us older members of our staff, who struggled with comfort and warmth. The conditions were challenging, with a mild drizzle during the night, but we persevered and were so glad when it was time to get up!”
26.2 Mile walk down the Kennet and Avon Canal: May 2023
The first charity event of 2023 took place on Sunday 14th May, where 20 members of staff from our Jones Robinson and Church Robinson offices completed a marathon 26 mile walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal. The walk began at our Newbury office at 8am and lasted over 10 hours! It was a lovely warm day and the team walked through some of the most picturesque scenery in the country, passing by historic landmarks, beautiful countryside, not forgetting the local wildlife … cows, sheep, ducks, and even donkeys! Throughout the day, as it got tougher, blisters showed their angry heads and limbs ached with pain, but no one gave up and everyone powered on until the very end, where they were met with the warm support of their colleagues and friends! This event alone raised almost £5,000 at the time.
Read about our previous events...
Three Peaks Challenge – The full story!
12 of our staff bravely volunteered in 2022 to complete the Three Peaks Challenge, and the team of 12 - christened our Blinding Peakers! - Anna Hill, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Caroline Wright, Charles Robinson, Chloe Morey, Lucy Coombes, Mel Lord, Rachel Crayton, Sam Norman, Sara Robinson, Steph Smith and Toyah Leonard - set off on Friday 10 June, from Newbury, for the long drive up to Scotland. Their first challenge was to climb Ben Nevis early the morning after. Unfortunately, due to very bad weather, with gusts of up to 70mph, it was deemed unsafe to continue and they were forced back down before reaching the peak (along with many other teams who were attempting the same challenge). Scafell Pike was a little better, weather-wise, but still tough climbing in the dark on Saturday overnight. Then the following morning, Snowdon had sunshine and blue skies, but was the hardest climb of all, being the last mountain and with the team having had hardly any sleep.
Never were they so grateful to get into their own beds once home!
Reminder of Who We're Doing This For…
The heart of our fundraising efforts lies in supporting three remarkable charities:
1. Julia's House in Devizes: A beacon of hope, providing hospice care for children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.
2. Naomi House & Jacksplace in Winchester: Offering palliative care and unwavering support for children and their families during life-limiting illnesses.
3. Loose Ends: A Newbury charity that stands by those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, offering a helping hand in their time of need.