Shop Direct has raised 拢440,000 in just 12 months to digitally equip Claire House鈥檚 new site which will support hundreds of seriously and terminally ill children in Liverpool and the wider North West.
Last year the 4,700-strong team voted for Claire House Children鈥檚 Hospice as its charitable partner of the year for 2016/17.
The charity helps seriously ill children live life to the full by creating wonderful experiences and bringing a sense of normality to family life.
Since then, colleagues across the etail giant’s sites in Liverpool and Manchester have undertaken a variety of fundraising activities including a charity ball for over 1,000 people, mountain climbing, fun days, worldwide marathons, skydiving, cycling and a digital dog show.
Alex Baldock, group CEO at Shop Direct, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e passionate about the North West and helping our local communities, but even we were blown away by the huge, huge difference Claire House makes in the lives of children and their families.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a charity that鈥檚 close to a lot of our colleagues鈥� hearts, and we were all delighted to support them.
鈥淓veryone at Shop Direct has got behind Claire House in some style; raising more than we鈥檝e ever raised before in a charity partnership and smashing our original 拢400,000 target.
鈥淥ur colleagues鈥� ambition and commitment has been inspirational; from the person who is completing seven marathons to the colleague who got a Claire House tattoo.
鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted that the money we鈥檝e raised will help to transform the charity鈥檚 new site, making a massive difference to children and their families鈥� for years to come.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 wait for the next stage of our partnership, which will see us work together on a cutting-edge multimedia suite.鈥�
Shop Direct has worked with Claire House to form a new innovation board, which is helping the charity to define what a world class digital hospice is and deliver the plans, which will create a lasting legacy for the North West.
The corporate partnership, which is Claire House鈥檚 biggest to date, has helped the charity put in place futureproof digital infrastructure like cabling, Wi-Fi and server technology at its new site located in the West Derby area of Liverpool.
In addition, Claire House is modernising paper-based systems so its teams can deliver a more personalised service while caring for children in their own homes, as well as at the site.
The team at Shop Direct is also helping to fund and design an interactive multi-media suite for use by the children and families who visit the centre. It will include cutting-edge technology and innovative sensory treatments.
David Pastor, chief executive at Claire House, said: 鈥淣ot only has this been Claire House鈥檚 largest corporate partnership, it鈥檚 been one of our most successful, with both organisations working closely together on a common goal; to support the children and families we care for.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so grateful to everyone at Shop Direct who have got behind our cause so wholeheartedly and really helped us kick start our journey to reaching every family that needs us.鈥�