People from across Cadent are taking on incredible fundraising challenges in aid of Emmaus UK. Freddie Bowlby, Sustainability and Social Purpose Advisor at Cadent, has written about his experiences.
When I started working at Cadent, I had never come across Emmaus and the work they do to tackle homelessness. Now, 18 months later, I am lucky enough to support Emmaus through Cadent’s charitable partnership every day as we continue to strive to be a Force for Good in society and work towards our ambition of raising £400,000 for this amazing charity in two short years.
Signing up to make a difference.
I first got involved with Emmaus when I took up the role of being our graduates charity lead within my first few weeks at Cadent, not really knowing what I was signing up for but hoping to help make a difference. My first task was to support our colleagues in choosing a new charitable partner from a range of charities that colleagues wanted to support. This is when I was first introduced to Emmaus.
A week later and I joined a team of Cadent volunteers up at Emmaus Mossley to help out for a day with sorting DVDs and other donations, as we got to see what Emmaus is really all about. Working alongside companions who were kind enough to share their stories and learning how Emmaus had helped give them meaning, I was completely inspired by the sense of community everyone there had. Companions, staff, and volunteers alike all pulled together to help run the enterprise. They were even able to give back to their local community, which is what I think truly makes Emmaus so special. Since then, I have had the chance to visit communities across the Midlands, East Anglia, and the South-West, and have seen the same great sense of belonging right across Emmaus UK.
Colleagues across Cadent are getting involved.
Over the past year I have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks, organised a Cadent-wide raffle and have been involved in many other great fundraising events for Emmaus, from virtual bingo to bake sales to Cadent’s first ever Easter bunny hop – a 5km fun run with over 100 colleagues sporting some bunny ears.
Currently, I am taking part in Emmaus’s Big Marathon Month, and preparing for a sponsored abseil alongside more than 30 colleagues, as we aim to raise over £5,000 by sailing 200ft down a building – the equivalent to 15 double decker buses.
We have also had some truly amazing fundraiser’s right across the business this past year. Junior Jones, a First Call Operative working in the East Midlands, raised a life-changing £5,381 as he completed the London marathon for Emmaus. This was made all the more impressive by the fact that Junior could barely complete a 5km run just 18 months ago!
Engaging with Emmaus this past year has helped teach me the value in community.
Whether it’s at home, work or online, being a valued member of a community can help get someone through the toughest of times. I’ve met countless companions who have been given a second chance thanks to the people that make up Emmaus, and I’m immensely proud to be able to play a small role in supporting them.
No matter how large or small, volunteering or fundraising, any support you can offer goes a long way in helping tackle homelessness and providing someone with a home for as long as they need it.
Thank you to Freddie and all at Cadent for the continuing support,
