Employees of Barclays Wealth and Investment Management in the Isle of Man have selected two local causes to be the charities they will support in 2014.
Employees were asked to vote for their preferred ‘Charity of the Year 2014’, but when just a handful of votes separated the top two it was decided Barclays Wealth and Investment Management would support both.
The chosen charities are Manx Miracles and Hospice Isle of Man. They will each receive donations raised by employee fundraising activities and through additional support at events during the year. In addition, employees will volunteer time to help each charity with specific projects, which could range from decorating to mentoring.
Last year, Barclays Wealth and Investment Management supported two Manx charities, Crossroads Care and The Children’s Centre, raising more than ?175,000 for charitable causes during the year, as well as dedicating more than 3,000 hours of volunteering.
Charity Committee Chairman Aidan Doherty, Head of Business Banking at Barclays in the Isle of Man, said: “The vote for 2014 Charity of the Year was so close it was only right that we support these two very worthy causes.
“Hospice Isle of Man, who we have worked with before, delivers vital services in the Isle of Man through hospice and Rebecca House, important services which require significant funding to maintain and develop. Many people here at Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, as well as all over the Isle of Man, know the real value and importance of Hospice.
“Manx Miracles, a relatively new charity, is an inspirational organisation which is determined to help improve facilities and services for children with additional needs, and their families. We have all been touched by the ambition and passion of all those involved in Manx Miracles and are looking forward to helping.”
He added: “In 2013 our employees raised a staggering amount for charity in the Isle of Man and, importantly, volunteered thousands of hours to help with specific projects. The message I’m hearing from within Barclays Wealth and Investment Management is that everyone eager to do even more in 2014 – it promises to be a really exciting and rewarding year.”
Manx Miracles is a parent-led charity for children that have additional needs and disabilities, raising money for children and families in the Isle of Man that face significant challenges. In particular, the charity aims to help children with physical and/or learning disabilities reach their potential and ensure these children and their families have access to the best support available. A chief ambition is to enhance the facilities at a Pre-School Assessment Centre in Douglas.
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Louise Connor, founder of Manx Miracles, said: “We are overwhelmed and so grateful that Barclays has adopted Manx Miracles as a Charity of the Year.
“As a relatively new charity it is an amazing boost for us to be associated with such a high profile and well-respected organisation. We are thrilled at the prospect of working in partnership with Barclays to raise funds during the course of 2014.
“The monies raised will allow us to deliver our first ‘miracle’ of building a new sensory play room at the Pre-School Assessment Centre in Pulrose, as well as allowing us to start work on identifying our next miracle!
“Working with Barclays will help raise invaluable funds to transform the lives of so many children in the Island, specifically children facing huge challenges in their lives.
“It really is an amazing gesture on the part of Barclays and their employees - we can't wait to get started.”
Hospice Isle of Man, established more than 30 years ago, provides specialist palliative care for patients facing life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses. The care includes physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects and is provided by a multidisciplinary team free of charge. Hospice provides inpatient facilities, respite care, therapeutic day care, specialist nurses, social worker, counselling, a range of therapies and hospice at home service.
Hospice Isle of Man PR & Marketing Manager Mary Doyle said: “Hospice Isle of Man and our children’s hospice, Rebecca House, are delighted to be nominated co-charity of the year by Barclays.
“We have worked with Barclays before and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of partnering with their employees. Their commitment in helping us raise funds and supporting us was very much appreciated.
“As a fundraising team we are really looking forward to lots of fun activities and making 2014 a good year for both Hospice and Barclays. Barclays’ employees are very hands-on and they have worked hard at many of our events, something I am sure they will do again this year.”
Photo: (from left) Manx Miracles Charity Manager Tina Lawton, Manx Miracles Founder and Trustee Louise Connor, Barclays Wealth and Investment Management Head of Corporate and Intermediary Banking Stuart Nelson, Hospice Isle of Man Corporate Events Fundraiser Terri Cook and Hospice Isle of Man PR and Marketing Manager Mary Doyle
