Charity leaders have praised local companies and their employees for supporting good causes and boosting morale during tough times.
Susanne Driffield from Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK) and Jethro Shearring from Dove House Hospice met with around 20 corporate teams at the yearly charity golf day organised by Rollits LLP.
Commercial law firm Rollits, which has offices in Hull and York, has been organising the event at Brough Golf Club for more than 30 years. The firm has confirmed that this year’s gathering raised over £3,500 from entry fees and sponsorship.
Susanne, who works at MDUK as the Regional Development Manager for the north of England and east Midlands, said: “We love to support the companies who hold fundraising days like this!”
She added that fundraising is boosting workplace spirits as colleagues work together to tackle the cost-of-living crisis: “People like to have some enjoyment alongside the fundraising element, especially when times are hard, and that’s why events like golf days are so good. They bring people together.
“The awareness we generate from the Rollits Golf Day is priceless. It would cost us a lot of money to buy the publicity from an event like this because we are not a well-known charity.”
Competitors at the golf day included Hull-based nationwide operators MKM and Rix Group, tech businesses Diony, The One Point and Springfield Solutions and Flanagan James and PPH Commercial from the property sector.
Roger Cameron of chartered accountants Cameron Ferriby & Co said: “I’ve played at this golf day since the mid-1990s and we entered a team from the early 2000s. It’s giving something back to the charitable organisations and at the same time being able to enjoy the company of the other guests.”
Jethro, a Senior Fundraiser (Trusts) at Dove House Hospice in Hull, mentioned that these events are a financial lifeline for charities and also play a crucial role in raising awareness. He said: “This is the 30th year of support by Rollits for the Hospice and when you get that long-standing, continuous backing it safeguards the core services and helps us develop and grow.
“The funding that we get from the government is a very small percentage of what we need and would cover about 40 days running costs, so we are completely reliant on the generosity of the community to keep providing the care that we do.
“These events bring in money and also help to raise awareness and educate people about what we do. There are still some who think we are part of the NHS or a charity shop so engagement is important.”
Over the years, Rollits have raised more than £150,000 from golf days, which greatly helps the supported charities. The next Rollits’ charity golf day is provisionally booked for July 4, 2024, at Brough Golf Course.
Image: Rollits LLP
Josie Geistfeld
Josie Geistfeld is Editor of Yorkshire Legal News. She welcomes comments and questions.