Rollits racks up donations for Charity Partners

Bryan Birch from the DK Foundation with Holly Joyce of Rollits taking part in a fundraising bike-a-thon during the firm’s first Wellbeing Week.

A LAW firm which launched a double charity drive after setting up an Employee Forum have handed over the proceeds to the first good causes to benefit from the scheme.

The team at Rollits are now preparing to announce details of its selected charity for 2020-21, which will reap the rewards of fundraising activities starting next month.

Staff at Rollits offices in Hull and York set up their Employee Forum at the end of 2018 as part of a move to encourage wellbeing in the workplace.

The Employee Forum holds regular meetings to discuss positive ideas to improve their time at work and to plan social events and fundraisers, having selected the DanKitching 35 Foundation in Hull and Independent Domestic Abuser Services (IDAS) in York as joint charities of the year for 2019-20.

The Foundation was set up in memory of Dan Kitching, a husband and father of three whose life was cut short by aggressive bowel cancer in 2017. The charity raises money to make a difference to the families and people who are receiving treatment for cancer at the Queen’s Centre at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham.

IDAS provides support to anyone experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence, with services which include refuge accommodation, community based support, peer mentoring and access to an out of hours helpline.

Fundraising activities included quizzes, a race night, bake sales, coffee mornings, and a bike-a-thon during the firm’s first Wellbeing Week in May 2019. The group presented more than £1,600 to the Foundation and £155 to IDAS.

More recently the Foundation and the York Foodbank, run by the Trussell Trust, were presented by the Forum with Easter eggs which were originally collected for Rollits staff but could not be distributed because of the lockdown.

Linda Cook, Head of HR at Rollits, said: “We’ve had a great response from colleagues in both offices to the fundraising efforts organised by the Employee Forum and we’re really pleased with our achievements during year one.

“We’ve really enjoyed working with Bridget and Bryan Birch and their daughter Kimberley Kitching from the Foundation and with IDAS and we’ve had a vote to come up with another great charity for 2020-21, with all sorts of ideas for future fundraising activities.”

Bryan Birch from the DanKitching 35 Foundation said: “In January 2019 we were delighted to receive notification that Rollits had nominated The DanKitching35 Foundation to be their charity of 2019 and that they had already began fundraising on our behalf.

“We were fortunate to be able to visit Rollits on many occasions throughout the year to take part in their many and varied fundraising activities.

“Even in these difficult times as our year as Charity Partner finally ends, the Foundation continues to make a difference to the patients and their families at the Queens Centre thanks to the ongoing generosity of all the staff at Rollits LLP who donated 70 Easter eggs which the Foundation delivered for distribution to the hardworking NHS staff at the Queens.

“In total, Rollits LLP has raised a magnificent £1689.89 for the DanKitching35 Foundation.

“On behalf of all the patients, their families, the hospital staff and the Foundation, we thank them for all the support they have given and for their time and consideration. Without people like Rollits, we would not be able to succeed.”