Sainsbury's Surbiton reach half-way stage in year-long partnership with Princess Alice Hospice (Esher).

Sainsbury's Surbiton reach half-way stage in year-long partnership with Princess Alice Hospice (Esher).

Sainsbury's Surbiton have raised £673 during their first six months of their partnership with Princess Alice Hospice.

Fundraising highlights so far include Cake Sales, Raffles, Quiz Nights, Fundraising in store, Bucket collections in Checkouts.

Next fundraising activity will be a Fundraising in store in May.

Customers will be able to vote for the store's new Local Charity Partner in May

Sainsbury's Surbiton have reached the half-way stage into their year-long partnership with Princess Alice Hospice and thanks to the support of the Surbiton community, the partnership has achieved great success so far with £1346 raised for the charity.

Back in June last year, the store announced that Princess Alice Hospice will be their Local Charity partner for the next twelve months, following votes from customers. The charity dedicated to providing free high-quality compassionate care and support for patients, their families and carers. They care for people with cancer and other illnesses living in a large part of Surrey, south west London and Middlesex. The Local Charity partner scheme, which launched in May 2009, has seen thousands of charities across the country benefit from Sainsbury's colleagues raising funds and awareness of their chosen charities.

Sainsbury's Surbiton Store Manager Elizabeth Barker said: "When our customers helped us to select Princess Alice Hospice as our new Local Charity Partner, we knew this was a charity that would really capture the hearts and minds of our colleagues. We've now held several fundraising activities and we're working to ensure the second half of our partnership will support the charity further".

Highlights during the first six months have included Cake Sales, Raffles, Quiz Nights, Fundraising in store, Bucket collections in Checkouts. Cake sale was the store's first fundraising activity in March 2012; this raised £210.

Through the partnership, collection buckets have been in-store for customers to make a donation if they wish. The buckets will remain in-store until May, when the store will begin it's search for their next Local Charity Partner. Customers will be made aware of the voting process in May. For now though, colleagues are busy working on their next area of support for the charity.

Emma Waggott (Princess Alice Hospice, Esher) spokesperson said: "The support which the colleagues have provided us so far has been really beneficial in helping to raise our profile in Surbiton. I'd to take this opportunity to thank every Sainsbury's Surbiton customer and colleague who's generously recognised the partnership and has made a donation to our cause. We're proud to be the store's Local Charity Partner and we look forward to working with colleagues during the remainder of our partnership".  

-Ends-

Sainsbury's local charity partner initiative is now in it's forth year, having begun in May 2009.

Sainsbury's stores are at the very heart of the communities they serve. It is not only important to provide great service and quality products, it's also vital to make a positive difference to communities and to be a good neighbour.

This begins with the positive economic impact Sainsbury's stores have in generating local wealth, by providing employment, using local suppliers and contractors, and regenerating local surroundings.

Last year Sainsbury's stores and their customers helped more than 1000 charities and organisations across the UK through fundraising and volunteering and gave more than £1.5 million of support to local communities.

Princess Alice Hospice is a registered charity. It provides specialist end of life and palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families both at the Hospice and in their homes

The Hospice catchment area includes Surrey, South West London and Middlesex serving a population in excess of 1 million.

Over £8 million is needed each year to provide these vital and much needed services, with limited NHS funding over 75% of funding must be raised through voluntary donations and fundraising.

www.pah.org.uk

www.facebook.com/pahopsice

www.twitter.com/PAHospice