2022 was our first full year supporting our local children’s homes in Lincolnshire. After 18 months of treating local children to birthday, Christmas, Halloween and Easter presents, plus some unforgettable summer and Christmas experiences, it was an easy decision for us to increase our support when we found out a new home would be opening in 2023.

It brings the total number of children in care we support up to 28.

2022: Summer Experiences and a 'Magical Christmas'

In 2022 alone we spent over £46,000 on our staff and charities, with a portion of this going to local children’s homes.

We bought every child a present for their birthdays and for Christmas, as well as chocolate eggs at Easter and some special treats for Halloween.

For Christmas, we helped deliver a “magical Christmas” for the children where we paid for a local theatre touring company, Rhubarb Theatre, to deliver a play to the home.

The staff said they had “not heard as much laughter and excitement in the home for a long time” and it was something they would remember for life.

Our donations helped the homes put on a huge Christmas spread and treat the children in the run-up to Christmas. The staff told us the children said it was the “best Christmas ever”. It was genuinely heart-warming to hear just how much of an impact the experience had on the children.

In the summer, all of the children were treated to a day out or experience of their choice which they went to individually with a member of the home’s staff; something which they don’t usually get to do. For the younger children, we bought paddling pools, sandpits and other garden toys for them to have a summer of fun.

The days out and experiences included:

• Go Ape
• Theatre Shows
• Football stadium tours (including Anfield and Old Trafford)
• Theme parks (including Alton Towers, Fantasy Island, Gulliver’s Valley and Flamingo Land)
• River Thames Cruise and London Bus Tour
• Spa days
• York Dungeon
• Eden Camp
• Karting Nation
• Junkyard Gold

Upping Our Contributions in 2023

We received loads of heartwarming feedback, and after finding out a new home would be opening in 2023, it was a no-brainer for us to support it. It means we are now supporting five homes, which house 28 children plus the staff.

As well as supporting the extra home, we’re also upping our contributions this year. On top of what we did for 2022, we will also be treating each home to:

• £100 present of their choice on birthday and Christmas for every child
• Monthly takeaways for residents and staff
• Christmas experience of choice (including Mid-Norfolk Polar Express Train)

Since 2020, the business has almost tripled its turnover to become a £2.5m business with an order book seeing us over the next two tears. Our strong financial position gave us an incredible opportunity to support a cause that was close to the business’s heart, and it’s something we will continue to do in the long term.

In 2022, there was a record number of Children in care (82,7140) which is a shocking statistic. For us, the thought of that many children not having the same typical upbringing that most of us come to expect was heart-breaking.

If you would like to get involved in supporting your local children’s homes, contact your county council and ask how you can get involved.