14th Of February by Sam Torr
Employees and bosses of P&A Group, a Flintshire-based group of companies, have vowed to raise a pallet stacked high with cash for a children’s charity during a year of fundraising.
Employees of the P&A Group of companies gathered at the firm’s sites in Mold and Saltney to hear managing director Steve Morgan announce that Hope House Children’s Hospices had won a staff vote to be named the companies dedicated charity for the next 12 months.
And Steve Morgan explained to staff how delighted he was that Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith hospices had been selected as the P&A Group’s charity of the year.
Speaking at the firm’s Woodworks Garden Centre and Cafe in Mold he said: “I’m thrilled staff voted to support Hope House Children’s Hospices. We have five divisions within the P&A Group, producing pallets, eco timber buildings, The Woodworks Garden Centre and Café, and Zest 4 Leisure selling own timber garden products to garden retailers nationwide.
“We will now work hard to raise as much as we possibly can for what is a very deserving cause over the next 12 months. We don’t wish to put a target figure on what we aim to raise. However, we generally raise around £10,000 over 12 months for our dedicated annual charity.
“I know all of our 170 fantastic employees will put their all into raising as much money as they can for Hope House Hospices whether by running marathons, sponsored silences, cake sales or parachute jumps.”
He added: "As a growing company, P&A is committed to employee fitness and long-term well-being as well as supporting the community and raising money for charity so it is a real pleasure to be able to work with Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith.”
And the P&A Group of companies fundraising efforts has the backing of the High Sheriff of Clwyd nominee Stephanie Catterall who is due begin her year in office in March.
Mrs Catterall, of Nercwys, dropped in to join staff, employees and Hope House Hospice fundraisers to help celebrate the launch of the fundraising year.
She said: “The focus of my year in office will be on volunteering so anything I can do to help and support businesses such as the P&A Group, I will do.
“Hope House Children’s Hospices is a remarkable charity and one that deserves support. All hospices deserve support but I know how particularly important Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith are to the people of this region.”
P&A Group of Companies finance director Andrew Baker, of Rhos-on-Sea has already set himself a challenge – to run more than 1,600 miles in the next year while raising money for Hope House.
He said: “I enjoy running and have already completed six marathons to date - Manchester three times, Chester, London and Leicester. This year I’m doing Manchester again and York. However, my plan is to run a half marathon or 10K every month too.
“Add to that to the 40 or so miles I do training every week and I’m hopeful of hitting the 1,600 mile mark in a year.”
He added: “I will be getting a lot of support from family and friends and I know many colleagues from other North Wales businesses have promised to support me.”
Nicola Sciarrillo, Hope House area fundraiser spoke to P&A staff and thanked them for their support.
She said: “P&A are keen to get their whole team involved in raising as much money as they can for the children and families cared for locally by Hope House.
“We look forward to working with P&A this year and helping staff to raise as much as they can. We are thrilled to have been chosen as their charity partner.
She added: “We must continue to raise funds to support local children and families when they need us most. No one should suffer the death of a child alone.
“Sadly, three local children die each week, currently Hope House can only afford to help one of these families. We are committed to changing this and with the support of P&A staff we will be a step closer to doing so.”
Keen to sign up for some fundraising challenges in support of Hope House were P&A Mold employees, Zak Richards and Sarah Williams.
Zak, sales coordinator at P&A who lives in Wrexham said: “I gave Hope House my vote in the ballot and I’m made-up they won the vote. Listening to the presentation and hearing a bit more about what they do was really emotional.
“We have a fantastic team at P&A from the managers down and everyone will get behind the fundraising. I’m going to look at what I can do. I’ve never been much of a runner but you never know!”
Sarah, marketing, events and administration coordinator at P&A, who lives in Mold added: “The presentation from the Hope House fundraiser was so emotional. I will do all I can over the next 12 months to raise as much as we can for Hope House.
“P&A is a fantastic group of companies and everyone will get behind the fundraising, I’m so pleased we chose to support Hope House this year.”
To find out more about Hope House Children’s Hospices please visit www.hopehouse.org.uk
To find out more about P&A Group of companies visit www.p-a-group.com
For sponsorship information, please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PAGroup-Zest4Leisure-2019.
Keep up to date with P&A Groups fundraising progress by following us on Twitter, @PAGroup1 and on Facebook, P&A Group.
