Supporting Spadework – a reflection

As Spadework’s time as our Charity of the Year comes to an end, we’ve reflected on the ways in which our staff have shown their support to this valuable organisation.

Funds raised for Spadework

Over the past two years, our staff have truly embraced this fantastic cause, raising funds which will help Spadework continue to deliver vital support to the adults they work with.

Our fundraising activities were led by our staff committee. They came up with a number of ways to engage our staff; from dress down days to bake sales and even Christmas tree decorating competitions!

When the pandemic put a stop to in-person events, our fundraising activities moved online, and we found new socially-distanced ways of raising much needed funds for the charity. These included virtual all-staff quizzes and an online Christmas raffle.

Staff were also keen to get involved with events led by Spadework themselves. In October, we held a pumpkin carving competition. This was aligned with Spadework’s ‘pick your own pumpkin’ project, with many staff purchasing their pumpkins directly from the charity.

In March 2021, staff were sponsored to complete nearly 220,000 steps to support the ‘Step up for Spadework’ campaign – enough steps for the average person to walk from Brachers’ head office in Maidstone, all the way to Salisbury!

Additional support

As well as fundraising support, we’ve made the most of the wide range of products that Spadework have to offer in their garden centre and shop.

Over the course of the two years, we’ve purchased a number of hampers from the charity’s farm shop as prizes for staff and client competitions. The hampers are put together by Spadework trainees. They include a wealth of local produce, including jams, chutneys, juices and cordials, some of which are made by the trainees themselves.

Last Christmas we also purchased two beautiful Christmas trees for our Maidstone offices.  Staff also sent in photos of their own Spadework trees looking suitably festive!

Increasing awareness

Alongside financial support, the firm has also focused on increasing awareness of the charity, regularly promoting and supporting them on the Brachers website and social media channels.

Over the past two years, posts mentioning Spadework across the Brachers social media channels were seen over 20,000 times!

We felt that highlighting the charity’s work was particularly important during the periods of national lockdown. As with many others in their sector, Spadework suffered due to their programme of planned fundraising activities and events having to be cancelled.

In October 2020, we offered Spadework an opportunity to publish an article on our website to highlight their work and  ongoing ‘pumpkin project’ and how these support the adults they work with.

Joanna Worby, Managing Partner, said: “We have been delighted to build a strong relationship with Spadework, who are such a valuable charity in our local community. Their inclusive ethos and belief that people with learning difficulties can be supported to live with independence is what makes them so special. I want to thank our staff for taking the cause to heart and showing such enthusiasm for supporting the charity. Thanks also go to the charity, who have been a wonderful organisation to work with.”

Kris Healey, Chief Executive Officer of Spadework, said: “I’d like to thank everyone at Brachers for the support they have given to Spadework in the past two years. 2020 was a challenging year for us. For most of the year, we provided virtual and long distanced support to many of our trainees. We are looking forward to welcoming them back in the summer.

“Through the farm shop and our vegetable boxes, we have been able to support vulnerable members of the local community. We have only been able to do that with the help of local people and companies, like Brachers. Thank you to all of your team for helping our charity through this difficult time.”

Brachers’ Charity of the Year 2023/24

Our current charity of the year is Team Tutsham, a large farm in West Farleigh, Maidstone that provides disadvantaged children with the opportunity to learn to ride and care for horses. Find out more about our charity partnership with Team Tutsham.

This content is correct at time of publication