Bristol companies give national charity fundraiser a flying start

Businesses from across Bristol have thrown their backing behind a regional fundraising campaign from the NSPCC even before it has been officially launched.

More than a dozen companies, in sectors ranging from finance to property, have each pledged to raise £1,600 for the charity in the next year.

The promise has come a week before the NSPCC officially launches its Bristol 1600 Club at a networking breakfast.

The NSPCC’s Bristol Business Board, a group of local businesses, is working together to help raise £400,000 in support of the charity’s national helplines, ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline.

The board recently announced it will be launching a 1600 Club for the region that will encourage local businesses to show their support for the NSPCC by pledging to raise £1,600 over the coming year.

The money will be used to help recruit and train a ChildLine counsellor and all the firms that take part and reach the £1,600 target will be invited to an evening reception hosted by

Already Alder King estate agents, town planning consultancy Barton Wilmore, IT support company Chorus, specialist recruitment company Definitive Consulting, and design and industrial product development specialists Clairis Technologies have signed up.

They have been joined by employment specialists the HR Dept, Netsight Internet Solutions, digital creative agency Nameless, former partner in KPMG and donor Terry Webber, factoring business Ultimate Finance, Regency Insurance Brokers, and banking and finance recruitment specialist Verdant UK.

Carrie Cardale, the NSPCC’s South West corporate fundraising manager, says the charity is delighted by the response so far and is calling for more businesses to follow suit and become part of a major Bristol fundraising initiative.

“The cost of recruiting and training one of our ChildLine counsellors, is a tremendous amount for a business to raise. To have so many companies sign up to the challenge ahead of the campaign launch is beyond our expectations and a tribute to the generosity of Bristol businesses.” she said.

“However, with a target of £400,000 to raise, we need many more companies to join our club and have fun motivating staff and raising much-needed funds. We welcome every business, large and small, to come along to our launch event, find out more and enjoy networking in a relaxed setting.”

The NSPCC business networking breakfast takes place on Monday, September 6, at the Alveston House Hotel near Thornbury. Entry is £10 with all monies to NSPCC. Places can be booked by contacting Sue Tumelty at The HR Dept on 0845 202 1999 or online at