Pauline Dodd, Society President said;
‘The Board of Directors are currently looking for local registered charities to put themselves forward as potential candidates backed up with a written statement on what the funds are required for. We compile a short list in early March and then invite the 850 Society’s employees to vote on their preference.”
The name of the charity with the most votes is declared at the annual general meeting at the end of April. After which the new charity and Society work together on fund raising ideas for the year, including collecting tins featured at over 150 till points as well as sponsored events and raffles.
As the Society trades from 49 branches from Braintree to Southend-on-Sea, prospective candidates should be able to demonstrate that their cause would be recognised by customers across all stores. The chosen charity is then encouraged to work with the Society’s stores and offer assistance and support in all major initiatives as and when required.
Chelmsford Star is now more than half way through with this year’s nomination, The J’s Hospice who offers care to young adults with life limiting conditions
Maz Keenan, Community and Events Fundraiser at the J’s said;
“We were delighted to have been chosen as Chelmsford Star’s ‘Charity of the Year’. We are enjoying our year working with the employees at the Society in their different fund raising efforts which have ranged to date, from a trek into the Grand Canyon and head shaving to book selling and raffles. The money will make a great difference to our charity and will enable us to support even more young adult patients to improve their quality of life.”
In 2013/2014 the Society raised just over £36 000 for Essex Dementia Care and over the past 7 years has raised in excess of £210 000 for Essex charities.
Interested parties should email Pauline Dodd, President at coty@chelmsfordstar.coop or write to her at 220 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 OLS by Friday 27th February, 2015. More information on the Charity of the Year scheme can be found at www.chelmsfordstar.coop/community/charity-year.
