Children’s Hospice South West has been chosen by regional legal firm Stephens Scown as its charity of the year, it has been announced today.
Solicitors from the firm, which has offices in Exeter, Truro and St Austell, held a company-wide vote to select the organisation to benefit from fund raising during 2009 and Children’s Hospice South West was the most popular choice.
The firm is very active in supporting charities across the South West and over £13,000 was raised during 2008 by Stephens Scown and split between the NSPCC in Cornwall and Devon cancer charity FORCE. Last year, employees held a number of events including drinks parties, a ball, cycling competitions, assault courses and took part in the Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds.
This year, the teams in Devon and Cornwall are planning even more opportunities for Children’s Hospice South West including physical challenges and support from events organised by the firm’s young marketing groups throughout the year.
Andy Steele, chief executive of Stephens Scown said: “Children’s Hospice South West is a really excellent choice and such a worthy charity deserving of all the funds that we are able to raise at Stephens Scown. It is the first time that we have chosen a company-wide charity of the year and I am very proud of how the whole team is getting behind this organisation to support the fantastic work they do.”
Children’s Hospice South West has two hospices – Little Bridge House in Fremington near Barnstaple and Charlton Farm in Wraxhall, North Somerset and plans to build a third hospice – Little Harbour near St Austell, Cornwall. The charity accepts children and families from across the South West and all the children who use the hospices have life limiting or life threatening conditions, which mean they are not expected to live into adulthood. Some families use the hospices for many years for respite or emergency care, depending on their needs and support the family request.
Emma Lloyd, Children’s Hospice South West’s Head of Fundraising (West) added: “I would like to express huge thanks to everyone at Stephens Scown on behalf of our charity. We are delighted that the firm is supporting us. Children’s Hospice South West is almost entirely funded by voluntary contributions through fundraising, donations, trusts and money left in wills. We rely heavily on the generosity of the people of the South West to raise the necessary running costs which are in the region of £6 million for our two hospices.”
Stephens Scown is ranked in the top tier for legal services in the South West in both the Legal 500 and Chambers guides to the legal profession.
