Emmanuel House is an incredible charity that offers vital support to people who need it most. We are delighted to be showing our support to Emmanuel House Support Centre again this year.

We have been supporting Emmanuel House for a number of years, via monetary donations, food donations, and last year our CEO, Dan Smith, CMO, Alex Broxson, and Communications Lead, Anna Murphy, visited Emmanuel House at the centre. They were so moved by the support that Emmanuel House provides, that they arranged for Retail Assist to sponsor the centre for a day. After all of 2020’s challenges, here at Retail Assist, we’ve decided to continue our support and donate £1,500 to their winter appeal.

Rosie Needham-Smith, Marketing and Fundraising Officer for Emmanuel House, said: “Thank you so much to everyone at Retail Assist. These contributions make all the difference to Emmanuel House - we couldn't do it without you. We really hope to be able to welcome you back to the centre at some point this year!”

Emmanuel House’s winter appeal is one of their most important fundraising events and it is used to sustain the running of the charity all year round. However, last year was a big challenge for many charities and Emmanuel House reported they could be at risk of a £70,000 shortfall as a result of the pandemic. With sources of income and community funding having been drastically reduced, it came at a time when more and more adults were facing homelessness, and with numbers of vulnerable and isolated adults across Nottingham increasing.

Alex said: “In December 2019, we got to visit Emmanuel House’s charity centre, so we’ve seen first-hand the amazing and critical work that they do. Last year, we sponsored Emmanuel House for the day and once again we would like to support this charity at this crucial time. Instead of a client event this year, we have chosen to donate to Emmanuel House on behalf of our customers and colleagues."

If you would like to support Emmanuel House, you can donate via their Virgin Money Giving page here.

This year, Emmanuel House commissioned a short film based on the lived experiences of Nottingham’s homeless people. The finished short film, Lone, raises awareness of the work Emmanuel House does to help those who are homeless, rough sleeping, in crisis or at risk of homelessness. Lone follows Gemma, a young woman who becomes homeless after the relationships around her break down – something that could happen to any one of us.

Rosie said: “I’d really recommend watching our short film, Lone. It’s based on the lived experiences of homelessness and is the perfect way to show how we help our service users.”

Watch Lone here.

Image credit: Emmanuel House

The post Offering Support to Those Who Need It Most: Our Latest Charity Update appeared first on Retail Assist.

Last week, we set our colleagues a new charity challenge. Lisa Bowden, our Head of Business Development – Solutions, wanted to take part in Race for Life after a cancer diagnosis last year. However, with Race for Life not taking part in its usual way due to Coronavirus restrictions and, with so many of us working in different locations around the country, we still wanted to show Lisa our support. Here’s our latest update.

Lisa’s Story

Lisa explains: “In February 2019, I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Stage 3 Breast Cancer. I’ll be honest, it was a shock. Now, after two major surgeries, 8 horrific months of chemotherapy and many, many sad and difficult complications along the way, I feel ready to help and to give back to help some of the most amazing people I’ve met and who have supported me along the way.

“I’m not in a position to be able to run in this year’s Race for Life, but I am going to walk it (however long it takes!) and aim to be fit enough to run it next year.”

The Walk with Lisa Challenge

Here at Retail Assist, we asked our colleagues if they would Walk with Lisa to show their support. Either running, walking, cycling (or any other jazzy form of movement!) we asked that they might take a photo of them taking part and then, if they were able to, contribute to Lisa’s fundraising page.

With an impressive initial figure raised of £560, Lisa has now nearly doubled this to an incredible £1,075, with more contributions still pouring in.

Lisa said: "My best friend ran for me last year; our aim was to target doing it together the following year. How quickly it has come round and having the additional support of all my colleagues is really overwhelming. I’m so pleased with the money raised so far and it’s so encouraging that even though we are all remote now the Retail Assist team spirit is going strong. I can’t wait to see all the photos and videos coming in, even my dogs have Race for Life t-shirts to wear on the day!  A massive thank you for everyone’s support so far, it really is appreciated."

Alex Broxson, our Chief Marketing Officer, said: "Lisa has been an inspiration to us throughout her cancer journey. It's great to be able to take part with her (remotely), and support her to help others fighting cancer, and is just testament to her own strength in character. It's also nice to see everyone carrying out their walks / runs, and seeing the donations flood in. She has already reached her target and is just a reflection of the support she should feel across the team. Go Lisa!"

If you would like to donate to Lisa’s fundraising page, click here.

Take a look at some of our colleagues (and their furry friends!) as they’ve joined in with Lisa’s challenge!

The post Racing Ahead to Walk with Lisa! Our Latest Charity Challenge appeared first on Retail Assist.

Warm showers, a hot meal and a strong support network might be essentials that many of us take for granted. But, at Nottingham’s Emmanuel House, all of these things come as part of the vital service that they provide to the city’s homeless and vulnerable adults.

In December, Retail Assist took part in Emmanuel House’s Lunchtime Scheme, where businesses could sponsor a December lunch. After a visit and tour of the centre by Retail Assist’s Chief Executive Officer, Dan Smith, Head of Marketing, Alex Broxson and Communications Lead, Anna Murphy, they found it to be a very humbling and emotional day, understanding the stark reality that many people face daily.

It costs an average of £1,400 per day to run the support centre and, following the December visit, Retail Assist sponsored this amount to fund the centre for one whole day on 1st February 2020.

And now, Retail Assist’s Dan Smith has a challenge for other businesses, too.

Dan explained: “Retail Assist has been supporting Emmanuel House for many years now, in reflection of the incredibly important work they do. It was a privilege to contribute towards their daily lunch service and, as a result of our visit, we decided to pay for the centre’s costs for the 1st February. I want to strongly encourage any other business to take on the 1st March – and hopefully the rest of the year! So, we want to know... who else out there will join us?”

Denis Tully, Emmanuel House’s Chief Executive Officer, added: “We are delighted that Retail Assist has pledged to cover the cost to run our Support Centre on 1st February: it is very much appreciated. We provide a range of support services aimed at giving practical help to prevent homelessness and enabling people to recover from homelessness. The donation will contribute to these support services along with basic services including food, showers and laundry.

“Emmanuel House is an integral part of the plan to reduce homelessness in the city of Nottingham. With the help of business support, such as this generosity shown by Retail Assist, we are able to continue to help people out of homelessness. We’d like to thank Retail Assist, not only their financial support, but also for helping to raise our profile within the business community. More and more Nottinghamshire companies are now getting involved to help and it’s great to see how our community of supporters are growing. It is this business support – and the support of the local community – that makes the difference.”

If you’d like to support Emmanuel House, please visit their website here.

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Every year, Retail Assist picks one charity to be our ‘Charity of the Year’. Whilst we have supported many different charities with many excellent causes, this year, we decided to support Emmanuel House: a Nottingham-based charity that supports homeless and vulnerable adults.

Throughout the year, we have held a variety of fundraising events, from our Great British Bake Off cake sale to taking over 200 Degrees’ kitchen in their Carrington Store. So, for Christmas, we decided to end our year with a fundraising extravaganza!

With our generous clients and partners donating gifts, members of staff from across all of our sites bought raffle tickets in the hope of winning a fantastic prize. With the draw taking place just before Christmas, a brilliant time was had by all as our CEO, Dan Smith, compèred the proceedings, raising over £875.

So, cue drumroll…this year, with all of our fundraising events combined, the grand total raised for Emmanuel House is just over £1,250!

A huge thank-you to all of our colleagues, customers and partners who have been involved in raising this impressive amount - it is very gratefully received.

Just some of the amazing raffle prizes that were up for grabs!

One More Gift

Along with the fundraising raffle, staff at our Nottingham Head Office also brought in food donations to give to Emmanuel House.

To top up the donations, the Marketing Team battled against the festive crowds to complete a festive supermarket haul! The team filled their trolley with essential items such as tinned tomatoes, non-biological washing powder, tea and stock cubes.

Afterwards, they took all the donations to Emmanuel House’s support centre, meeting their Marketing Assistant, Gill.

The Marketing Team with all the food donations

A Warm Welcome

Being met at the door by Emmanuel House’s service users, the team were greeted with smiles and offers of help, with people jumping up to help carry in the bags of food.

Speaking about Emmanuel House’s provision, Gill said: “Whenever people turn up, they are guaranteed a warm welcome.”

The service provision at Emmanuel House was certainly impressive. With a pool table, a large eating and seating area, and a bustling kitchen, the centre felt cosy and welcoming.

Gill said: “Often homeless people have lost an entire support network of family, friends and colleagues. Because of this, isolation is one of the biggest issues that they face; we have a range of services, with choirs such as Streetwise Opera and the Opera Dudes, Art Group and the Women's Group to encourage socialising and to build trust.”

Eating times also provide a great way to chat and connect with others, and Emmanuel House’s Head Chef, Joe, cook a meals from scratch, using fresh ingredients – often for over 70 people at a time.

Outside Emmanuel House's Support Centre

Gill explained: “December is our busiest period for donations as people’s thoughts turn to those less fortunate over the festive season. However, as our centre is open all year round and donations can start to wane over the warmer seasons, this is our opportunity to stockpile for the coming months. Our volunteers are involved in processing the donations, along with also providing valuable admin support, running our charity shop and working in the kitchens. Without them, we couldn’t run the service. They are the true unsung heroes.”

Gill added: “Whilst there are many terrible things in the world, it is always so heart-warming that there are always people that want to help. So thank you, Retail Assist – and Merry Christmas!”

If you’d like to support Emmanuel House, more details can be found on their website here.

The post Spreading a little joy this Christmas: Supporting Emmanuel House, Retail Assist’s Charity of the Year appeared first on Retail Assist.

A warm bed, a hot bath, and a steaming cup of a tea are all things that help us get through the harsh, freezing winter months. But, instead of this, what if your priorities involved finding bedding, food or even a safe place to sleep?

Emmanuel House is Retail Assist’s charity of the year and today, we attended the launch of their Winter Appeal. Whilst homelessness is a year-round issue, the focus of their Winter Appeal is to work with beneficiaries to help find a home of their own – something that many of us take for granted.

Speaking at the launch, Denis Tully, Emmanuel House’s Chief Executive Officer, said: ‘Ultimately, our ambition is to ensure that people recover from homelessness, forever.”

Emmanuel House’s services, and the Winter Shelter they co-ordinate, are an integral part of the plan to reduce homelessness in Nottingham city. In 2017-2018, over 900 individuals used the service, amounting to over 17,000 visits to the centre. The services they provide are varied, with the provision offered covering everything from advice and advocacy around tenancies, benefits, mental health support, training and workshops, drug and alcohol support, and a daily nurse, to a core programme of social activities including art projects and a choir. They also have an on-site charity shop, which brings in much-needed income and is also a place for service users to gain all-important work experience.

With the support centre costing £1,000 a day to run, plus extra funding needed to finance the Winter Shelter, and no statutory funding received, donations are vital to provide support and services to the centre’s users.

However, whilst monetary donations are crucial to keeping the centre running, contributions of food and clothing also make a significant difference to the work of Emmanuel House. Their ‘most-needed items’ include tinned tomatoes, cooking oil, stock cubes, tea, coffee and gravy powder, with other essentials listed such as rucksacks, trainers, sleeping bags, jeans and jogging bottoms.

This December, Retail Assist will hold its annual Christmas raffle, which takes place across all of our sites. With an office fuddle, fundraising activities and a Christmas Jumper Day, all proceeds raised will go to Emmanuel House.

Many of us will be looking forward to a joyful Christmas, filled with loved ones, parties and presents. However, perhaps this winter, you might want to consider supporting vulnerable adults and the challenges they face.

Because, as Denis summarises: ‘Without hope, we wither.’

Emmanuel House is Retail Assist’s charity of the year. You can read more about some of our fundraising efforts here and here, and for more information regarding how you could support Emmanuel House, visit their website here.

The post This year, give hope: why our charity of the year, Emmanuel House, needs your support appeared first on Retail Assist.

Retail Assist and 200 Degrees join forces for another Great British Bake Off 

We’ve seen chocolate week, bread week and biscuit week. But nothing we’ve seen so far on the Great British Bake Off can compare to Helpdesk Call Analyst Kay Thompson’s chocolate cake extravaganza.

Kay, the winner of the Retail Assist Bake Off, was chosen by a panel of judges including representatives from the Nottingham Post, Nottingham-based charity Emmanuel House and coffee shop chain, 200 Degrees.

Kay said: ‘When I found out that I’d won the Retail Assist Bake Off, I was so shocked. My daughter says I should go into baking but I just find it therapeutic. I like losing myself in the kitchen and chilling out for a few hours.’

After arriving at 200 Degrees’ Carrington Street store, she donned her apron and instantly got to work in their kitchen – although, impressively, without a written recipe in sight.

Kay said: ‘I’ve made this cake so many times as it’s one of my grandchildren’s favourites. I know it off by heart.

‘They’ll often put an order in for cakes and cupcakes, and I love making them.’

Kay’s star bake included a Victoria sponge topped with chocolate icing, along with Malteasers, Orange Matchmakers and Minstrels.

Joined by 200 Degrees’ Head Chef, Lucy Hickling, Kay built up her chocolate masterpiece over three hours in the professional kitchen, and, after chilling overnight in the fridge, it was placed on sale the next day.

Lucy said: ‘The moment we saw Kay’s original cake, we knew it would sell well. People eat with their eyes and this cake looks great, as well as tasting delicious. Our chocolate treats generally sell the best, so I’m expecting this cake to do well!

All the proceeds from the sale of the cake are being donated to Emmanuel House.

Lauren Howatson, Marketing Manager for Emmanuel House, also popped down to view Kay’s efforts.

She said: ‘We’re so grateful for all of Kay’s hard work today and also for the generous donation by 200 Degrees. We’re currently doing lots of fundraising to prepare our service in the run up to winter, which is accessed by many homeless people and vulnerable adults over winter.’

If you would like to buy a slice of Kay’s show-stopping charity cake, head down to 200 Degrees’ Carrington store. But you might want to hurry… we don’t think it’ll stick around for long!

Thank you to Kay for all her hard work and also to Lucy for letting us steal the 200 Degrees kitchen!

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#GBBO

The Retail Assist team have turned their hands to baking to raise money for charity… but who received the Hollywood Handshake?

Guest judges, (left to right) Lynette, Lucy and Matt.

On Tuesday 28^th August, Retail Assist colleagues downed tools and picked up their baking bowls to raise money for Emmanuel House, a charity that helps support homeless people in Nottingham. With three guest judges including Matt Douglas and Lucy Hickling from Nottingham’s own 200 Degrees, and Lynette Pinchess, Nottingham Post’s food and drink editor, there was a tough crowd to please.

The Retail Assist team had brought in every kind of baked good, from cheese scones to a unicorn cake - and not a soggy bottom in sight. With so much choice, there was something there to tickle everyone’s (fondant) fancy.

However, with so many top contenders, judging the winner was not a piece of cake.

200 Degree’s Marketing Manager, Matt, said: “There have been so many tastes and textures, with savoury as well as sweet. We’ve also been really impressed with the presentation.”

Lauren Howatson, Marketing Manager for Emmanuel House, added: “Everyone has made such an effort. We were so impressed!”

The Showstopper - A unicorn shaped cake with a matcha and lemon sponge

The overall winner was Helpdesk Call Analyst, Kay Thompson, with a chocolate extravaganza showstopper. Gifted by 200 Degrees, Kay won the chance to not only replicate her cake in their kitchen, but to see it being sold in 200 Degrees stores.

Kay said, “I’m delighted to have won! I put lots of effort in and I’m so pleased that we are raising money and awareness for Emmanuel House. They are such a great charity.”

Head Chef at 200 Degrees and fellow judge, Lucy, added: “There was a massive array of colour and when we saw the winning cake, we knew we would love to replicate it. It will fly off the shelves!”

The winning bake, made by Kay Thompson

The Nottingham office raised a current total of £208.67, with all proceeds going to Emmanuel House. Offering support to the city’s homeless and vulnerable adults, Emmanuel House provides vital help and guidance to those most in need. They have over 1,000 visits a week where they offer essential survival services such as hot food and drinks, an opportunity to change into clean, dry clothing, shower and laundry facilities as well as support in the following areas: mental health, tenancy and resettlement, benefits and welfare, training and workshops and access to the Winter Shelter.

Well done to Kay and thank you to everyone who took part!

Think you could add to our cake skills? Retail Assist is expanding! Click here to visit our careers page for more information.

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