Each year CHoC choses a charity to support with a programme of fundraising activities which allows us to make a financial contribution which is in line with our views and values as an organisation. Giving back to local community causes that are important to our staff is a key part of CHoC’s identity as a Social Enterprise. Every year our staff nominate a different charity that they would like to support.

2021
Mind in Cumbria was our chosen charity in 2020, our staff felt it was the was the perfect organisation to receive our support due to the strain that high demand on services and long periods of isolation had put on everyone’s mental health and wellbeing. Covid – 19 had meant that we could not enjoy our usual programme of fundraising activities so in 2021 we continued to support Mind in Cumbria with their work providing a dedicated crisis line and a range of support services to those struggling with their mental health across the County. Due to these fundraising challenges it was decided that a £250 reward would be drawn from the CHoC Social Enterprise funding pot along with 25% of any underspend to ensure we were still able to support Mind as our charity of the year in a meaningful way. This allowed us to present the charity with £913.75 which we were hopeful would be shared across the 5 locality areas covered by Mind.

2022
This year, partly in response to the sad situation we have witnessed in Ukraine, it was suggested by our Chief Executive and our Charity of the Year Coordinator that we support the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).

The DEC works as an umbrella organisation bringing together 15 UK aid charities and coordinating fundraising and humanitarian responses in times of overseas crisis. Donations to the organisation are equitably shared out between these member charities to enable the most effective response to any given disaster. Most recently the DEC have been coordinating appeals to support those living through the Ukrainian conflict and those living in Afghanistan against a backdrop of drought, economic collapse and natural disaster.

Witnessing these global events from such a distance can leave us feeling powerless to help but together as an organisation we have the potential to make a real difference through joint fundraising. Over the last few years it has been difficult to arrange Charity of the Year fundraising due to the Covid-19 situation. We are looking forward to resuming face to face activities and hope that you will join us in hosting an exciting programme of events to raise some money. If you have any ideas or would like some help running a fundraising event please get in contact via SocialEnterpriseCommittee@choc.nhs.uk.

We currently have raffle tickets for sale at each of our CHoC Bases and Medical Practices in preparation for the Christmas raffle which will be drawn at the Christmas party on the 25th of November. All proceeds will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee. We have kindly been donated lots of great prizes from local companies and businesses that work regularly with CHoC including …

  • An Apple IPad
  • A Laptop
  • An Amazon Echo Show and a Dot
  • Meal Vouchers
  • Afternoon Tea Vouchers

Please keep an eye out here for the winners to be announced!
To see the charities we have worked with previously please see our infographic here  – CHoC Charity of the Year Infographic