28th March 2024

This past year, the team at Lee & Thompson has hiked, crafted, baked, scooped, run and eaten to raise a total of £10,457.73 for our Charity of the Year 2023/24, domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid England.

Members of L&T’s Charity Committee planned a mixture of new office-based fundraising concepts for staff, such as candle making, a football shirt contest and a Coronation-themed afternoon tea, in addition to favourites such as rooftop ice-cream sales, festive wreath making, breakfast clubs, raffles, tombola and sport/media virtual sweepstakes – always seeking to bring the firm together to raise money for and awareness of this important cause.

Our extraordinary half marathon runners Henrietta Cabey and Antony Swiatek respectively completed the Victoria Park Half and Ealing Half in autumn to support Women’s Aid. Their fundraising, when combined, contributed a huge £1.9k to our total.

Funds were predominantly raised through employee donations and the firm’s fund-matching programme, however our lovely clients, suppliers and supporters also sponsored us generously for this year’s charity hiking challenge, which this time was a gruelling 10-12 hour overnight marathon hike in central London for Women’s Aid that concluded at dawn on International Women’s Day – a seriously feat by our hiking newbies as well as seasoned pros.

Raising awareness about the charity’s purpose was a particularly important objective to our Charity Committee. One lunch hour early into the fundraising year, we welcomed a senior corporate fundraising manager of Women’s Aid, Fern White-Andrews, to our office to speak to the firm about the work the Charity does and how donations are being used.

Frankie Jackson, Women’s Aid Corporate Fundraising Officer, said:

“We have been completely blown away by the incredible efforts you have all poured into the fundraising events.”

Reno Antoniades, Managing Partner said:

‘It is such an important organisation, dedicated to ending domestic abuse while working tirelessly every day to help those affected.”

Our fundraising in pictures

More about Women’s Aid England

Women’s Aid supports survivors, educates the public, campaigns for change and supports almost 300 local lifesaving services to women and children. Domestic abuse is a horrific crime, affecting millions of women across the country. Escaping an abusive relationship can be incredibly difficult and dangerous. Find out more here.

It has been a pleasure to raise funds for this incredible charity – we thank each person who supported this memorable year of fundraising. Do watch this space for details about which nominated charity has received the most votes for our next Charity of the Year fundraising campaign.