A Swindon business has donated £10,000 to local charities as an early Christmas present.
OneFamily, which is located at Regus House at Windmill Business Park, has given the funds to four nearby organisations this festive period.
These charities help some of the most vulnerable people in the town and consist of the Swindon Christmas Toy Appeal, SMASH, The Big Breakfast Plus and Swindon Food Collective.
The financial services company has gifted each organisation £2,500 and has also offered hands-on help through employee volunteering and experience.
The Christmas Toy Appeal, organised by the Gateway Church, provides Christmas presents to parents and guardians to give to their children.
Dawn Prosser, Toy Appeal co-ordinator, said: “We are very grateful for OneFamily’s generous financial donation and volunteering their time to help sort and categorise all the toys we receive.
“The money will ensure we have a variety of presents for all age groups, especially teenagers as we don’t receive as many gift donations for older children.”
SMASH is a mentoring charity for children to help them realise their potential and achieve. The charity provides safe spaces and practical support for young people in Swindon.
Andy Malcolm, CEO of SMASH, said “School attendance is at a record low across the country, and this puts so much pressure on not only the young person but their wider family as well.
“OneFamily’s generous donation and volunteering will enable our mentors to continue delivering support to find a solution that means the young person can return to education.”
Big Breakfast Plus offers hospitality and breakfast to the homeless as well as those who are impacted by the cost of living and food poverty.
Swindon Food Collective helps people who are experiencing financial hardship and finding it difficult to provide food for themselves, their families or dependants.
Jim Islam, CEO of OneFamily, said: “Money has been tight for so many people over the last couple of years, and the pinch is often felt even harder in the winter months.
“Amazing charities like these help local families and individuals who, for many, experience additional challenges around Christmas, and we are privileged to help them provide support through this extra busy time.
“Since opening our Swindon office, we’ve been keen to build longstanding partnerships with local charities and get stuck into supporting the community.
“For us, it’s not just about handing money over; we’ll be investing time, practical support and advice that we hope will have a real impact on the lives of local individuals and families.”
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