Charity fundraisers from Warwickshire express delivery giant TNT joined forces with one of the country's most successful rugby stars to chalk up a record-breaking achievement at a special school in Stratford-upon-Avon.
TNT - the UK's top business-to-business courier company - created a new attendance record when employees paid a visit to the Welcombe Hills School in Blue Cap Road in the town, as part of the company's support for the children's charity Wooden Spoon.
Ex- British Lion and England rugby international, Tim Stimpson - now an ambassador for the charity - was also on hand to mark the occasion as TNT sent its 1,800th employee on the programme, designed to raise awareness of the needs of children who are mentally, physically or socially disadvantaged.
TNT is the biggest single contributor to Wooden Spoon, having raised £2.3 million in cash donations in the past eleven years. In turn, the Wooden Spoon provides funding for children's projects across the UK to support youngsters who are disadvantaged. Spoon - with the help of TNT - contributed £25,000 towards the cost of creating a sensory garden at Welcombe Hills.
Monday's (December 8) visit was part of TNT's 'Seeing is Believing' programme - an initiative launched just over five years ago - that enables employees to take time out of their working day to witness how the money they generate is put to good use by Wooden Spoon.
This year more than 400 employees have been given time off to go along to visit a Wooden Spoon supported project - a new high - in the company's unstinting support for the charity.
Judith Humphry, Head Teacher at Welcombe Hills School said: "TNT and the Wooden Spoon have made a significant contribution to the learning environment at the School, for which we are very grateful.
"We are delighted that TNT gives such wonderful backing to Wooden Spoon and it is schools like ours that benefit in such a big way. Our visitors saw the sensory garden in all its festive finery as all the Christmas decorations are up at this time of year."
The Spoon's special ambassador - Tim Stimpson - the only player ever to win five successive English Premiership titles said: "Seeing is Believing is a great idea that motivates all those taking part, but of course the real winners are the children who rely on the endeavours and generosity of the TNT Express Services workforce."
'Seeing is Believing' is immensely popular with TNT employees and remains a very successful initiative in helping motivate fundraising and building even stronger ties between TNT and Wooden Spoon.
Tom Bell, Managing Director of TNT Express Services said: "Seeing is Believing visits are invariably humbling experiences because you meet children who cope with adversity on a daily basis. They are also very rewarding occasions because our people see how our fundraising efforts are making a positive impact on the lives of thousands of young people."
Warwickshire fundraisers get a sense of Christmas in Stratford
posted: Wednesday, 10 December 2008Charity fundraisers from Warwickshire express delivery giant TNT...