A Launch That Left Us Speechless
The evening wasn’t just about unveiling our plans—it was an eye-opening experience. Listening to the stories of those on the front lines of these vital causes was both humbling and motivating.
Pauline Cox, from Shelter, painted a stark picture of homelessness in the North West:
“9,700 children are living homeless in the North West, and the number is rising. Many think homelessness is the person they see sitting by the supermarket wishing you a good day, but what they don’t see are the children too. It’s happening in our communities.”
Shelter works tirelessly to help people facing homelessness or poor housing. The charity provides vital support for individuals and families by offering legal services for those wrongly evicted or living in unsafe conditions. Shelter also campaigns for better housing policies and supports initiatives to build more affordable homes, including the goal of constructing 90,000 new social homes in England over the next decade.
Stories That Inspire
From Feeding Britain, Andrew shared the heart-wrenching realities many families face in this country. His words resonated deeply:
“Some parents are sacrificing so much just to provide one meal a day for their children, were in many cases, that was too much to provide.”
Feeding Britain works to combat food insecurity and its effects on communities. In addition to providing emergency food to families, they focus on longer-term solutions to tackle the root causes of hunger. This summer alone, Feeding Britain provided over 40,000 spaces for children across the UK, offering them healthy meals, fun activities, and food to take home. Their commitment to helping children and families in crisis is nothing short of inspiring.
Samuel from Action for Children shared an interesting message about how the charity first began over 150 years ago when Thomas Bowman Stevenson saw two children living rough under the arches of Waterloo Station. He knew he had to do something, and the first thing he did was speak to the two children, asking them what they needed and how he could help them. From that interaction, he formed an action plan to support children, which ultimately led to the creation of the first national children’s home through that intervention.
In the past year alone, Action for Children helped 765,905 children and families, providing everything from emergency housing and youth services to mental health support and specialist family care. Their outreach helps young people overcome challenges, from homelessness to mental health struggles, and empowers them to build brighter futures.
Action for children have a Christmas Secret Santa charity campaign, where you can be a secret Santa to a vulnerable child in the UK. By donating, you could give the essentials of warm clothes, a hot meal, or a special present just for them by donating. They’ll know Santa has remembered them – but they won’t know that Santa is you. Donate to Action For Children here.
Poppies Cleaning Service’s Managing Director, Chris Wootton, shared a personal connection to Action for Children, reflecting on the charity’s importance to him:
“Action for Children has a place close to my heart as my mother used to do a lot of work raising money for this charity when we were younger.”
Blue Cross and the Healing Power of Pets
Meanwhile, Blue Cross shared a moving story from Olee Bass, who recounted his experience with his kitten Obi. Obi helped him through some of his darkest days during the pandemic, offering the emotional support and companionship Olee needed to navigate his own mental health struggles. Tragically, Obi passed away shortly before his first birthday, but Olee’s deep love for his cat led him to work with Blue Cross, where he continues to support other pet owners in need.
Blue Cross provides free or low-cost veterinary care for pets, helping families who cannot afford treatment. They also run pet adoption programs and offer support for people struggling to care for their pets, whether it’s due to financial hardship or health issues. Their work is crucial in keeping pets and their owners together and ensuring pets get the care they need.
Sheffield’s Role in the Campaign
Poppies Cleaning Service Sheffield is kickstarting Poppies’ charity fundraising activities with their very own sponsored walk in January. As part of the national fundraising initiative leading up to Poppies’ 45th anniversary, the Sheffield team is stepping up to make a difference and raise funds for five important charities: Mind, Blue Cross, Action for Children, Feeding Britain, and Shelter.
To mark this special occasion, Poppies Sheffield will be hosting a 5K walk/run around Rother Valley Country Park on January 18th, 2025. This event is a chance for staff, supporters, and friends to come together for a fun, engaging day of fundraising while raising awareness for the invaluable work these charities do across the UK.
Nigel Bayliss, owner of Poppies Cleaning Service Sheffield, expressed his excitement about the fundraising efforts:
“I was really inspired by hearing from the charities and learning about the amazing work they do. The whole team here is eager to get involved, especially as we’re celebrating 30 years of serving the Sheffield community. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to give back and support causes that truly matter. The stories we heard were both eye-opening and motivating.”
The sponsored walk will be an opportunity for the Poppies Sheffield team to come together, make an impact, and contribute towards the £45,000 target, which will be evenly divided between the 5 charities chosen by Poppies Cleaning Service.
Join Us in Making a Difference
This campaign is about more than celebrating our anniversary; it’s about creating lasting change. We are proud to support charities that make a real difference in people’s lives, from providing safe homes to offering mental health resources and ensuring no family or animal is left behind.
Feeling inspired? Stay connected with your local Poppies branch to get involved in fundraising activities or donate directly to this worthy cause. Together, we can make our 45th birthday celebration a powerful legacy of care, compassion, and community.
Support these five incredible charities and help us reach our £45,000 goal! Donate today! Click here to donate!
