Putting the Fun into Fundraising at Winchester City Council
Over the course of 2007 staff at Winchester City Council have raised thousands of pounds for charity – both at work and in their spare time.
This Christmas more than 150 employees and councillors opted to donate money and send an electronic card instead of buying Christmas cards for colleagues.
Organised by Head of Legal Services, Howard Bone, the Christmas Card Appeal 2007 raised a brilliant £2,016 (with Giftaid) which will be split between the Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal, Reach, Brook Hospital for Horses, and Winchester Youth Counselling.
Putting the ‘fun’ into fundraising, a very brave Head of Environment, Rob Heathcock, raised some eyebrows as well more than £555 for Children in Need by dressing up in an outrageous outfit. Throughout November colleagues paid to pick which items of clothing Rob would wear and as a result he spent the day flip-flopping around the offices in a tutu, a tinsel bra and wig.
That same day a swear box in the IT department, a council-wide dress-down day, a cake bake and a static-bike race helped raise a further £330 for Children in Need.
Other events throughout the year have included Jeans for Genes Day in October which raised £251 for children with genetic disorders, a dress-down day, cake bake and raffle for Comic Relief raised £720 in March, and last January staff raised £140 to go towards beating bowel cancer.
A charitable bunch, many other fundraising attempts have been made by City Council employees throughout the year. To name just a few of them: competing in the Great South Run for Macmillan Cancer Relief; helping to organise Winchester Oxjam; walking 24 miles between Winchester and Salisbury’s Cathedrals for Naomi House; and running in the Race for Life.
In September Chief Executive Simon Eden raised £2,200 for The Mayor of Winchester’s charities by cycling to our twin town of Laon, France, and back again with a group of friends.
Congratulating staff on their achievements, he said: “It is wonderful that so many people at the City Council have gone to the time and effort of organising fundraising events this past year. It is also heartening to see that colleagues are so supportive of each other and their charities. I hope that 2008 will be an equally positive year.”