Community Involvement
Although conforming to government legislation is an important way to acknowledge our environmental responsibilities, we believe that to be a successful business we must also put as much back into the community as we can.
We are exceptionally proud of our charity work. Here are just a few of the organisations and activities with which we’ve been involved:
- Guide Dogs for the Blind
Each year we are devoting £5,000 to Guide Dogs for the Blind to sponsor the training of a Labrador puppy. To date we are proud to have helped introduce ‘Cathy’, ‘Hazel’ and ‘Rodney’ into their new regime - Bradford International Film Festival
We have been one of its key sponsors for five years running - Ilkley Literature Festival
We have sponsored the production of the literature and programmes for several consecutive years
We’ve also made donations to several regional and national charities, including:
- Cancer Research UK
- Macmillan Nurses
- British Heart Foundation
- Cookridge Cancer Care
- The Bobby Moore Foundation
It has been a pleasure to have contributed to, and to be involved with, a number of exciting and worthwhile causes. However, one of our strongest relationships is with the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity…
Marie Curie Cancer Care
In 1995, we took part in Marie Curie Cancer Care’s first ‘Dash to Dublin’ challenge. Since then, we have supported the charity in a number of ways every year, and become an integral part of their fundraising efforts.
Like all charities, Marie Curie Cancer Care relies heavily on public donations and sponsorships. Over the last decade, we’ve produced free of charge high quality marketing promotional literature, including leaflets, brochures, programmes, tickets and posters, to help them increase awareness and encourage participation in their fundraising activities and events.
As Annmarie Carey, the charity’s Corporate Development Manager (North Regions), says, ‘The monetary equivalent of this support is approximately £30,000 per annum. However, this contribution far exceeds the actual cost savings – it has an immeasurable impact on the charity’s work.’
Thanks to the high print quality and design, the charity has been able to use the material in pitches for corporate sponsorship, and in 2006 Marie Curie Cancer Care became the BUPA Great Run series nominated charity.
‘Everyone at Spellman Walker, from the receptionist to the directors, treats us in a very professional and courteous manner. Nothing is too much trouble and, without exception, everything has been delivered on time,’ says Annmarie.
We don’t stop at providing print materials. All of our staff have helped raise thousands of pounds for our local Bradford Marie Curie Hospice by participating in our own fundraising events. And not only that - for the past seven years our senior managers have completed the 26 mile Three Peaks Challenge in Yorkshire, raising over £2,500 each year for their efforts. And in 2009 a team completed the National Three Peaks, which involved walking up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, each of which stand over 3,000ft above sea level.
We are proud of our partnerships with Marie Curie Cancer Care, and will continue to support the charity’s valuable work in any way we can, well into the future.
The Lighthouse Group
A more recent addition to our sponsorship portfolio, The Lighthouse Group – our near neighbours here in Bradford – are an award-winning charity who have developed a unique approach to rescuing young people in educational crisis.
In a bid to assist them in transforming the lives of disaffected young people we have jointly developed an educational resource programme centred around Spellman Walker’s environmental credentials and beliefs. Not only will this help the local youth community to better understand the need to work in a more responsible manner, it will introduce them to a strong work ethic and commercial environment.
We are donating several thousand pounds worth of publicity material to TLG and are making a video recording of our progress with these young people.