Throughout the 2024 festive season, our team here at Midland Lead will try and make a difference to 12 local charities – by sharing their efforts and making a small donation. Small, local charities and not-for-profits, go above and beyond all year round; we are so proud of the endless hours and efforts they dedicate to our local community. We wish everyone working for, helping and relying on these small charities a Merry Christmas and Happy & Healthy New Year.

Here is a roundup of the amazing charities we will be supporting this December during our #12DaysofChristmasCommunity initiative.

1. Hannah’s Hope Charity

On Day 1 we are making a donation to the Hannah’s Hope JustGiving page. Hannah, lives in South Derbyshire, and was diagnosed with Glioblastoma some time ago. Despite her continuing battle with cancer, she has founded a charity for a much needed respite retreat for teenage cancer patients, near Mercia Marina. Hannah’s Lodge for other teenage cancer patients will help to give them a much needed rest and break in their treatment and a place for the whole family to recuperate and make memories.

2. South Derbyshire Community Voluntary Support

We will be giving 2 family shopping lists to the South Derbyshire Community Voluntary Support. South Derbyshire CVS is a local charity working to improve the quality of life for people in South Derbyshire. Their support ranges from providing food at the food hub, through to health and mental well being support.

3. Derby Food 4 Though Alliance

This charity was initially created to respond to the immediate needs of people in Derby. Whilst they continue to meet the immediate need of food, their main focus is to support and signpost those accessing their services to tackle the root causes of their deprivation and poverty. We will donate money towards 3 reverse advent calendars for DF4TA .

4. Gresley Rovers’ Girls FC

We are big fans of supporting local, grassroots football clubs. The difference they make to local communities is invaluable. This December, we will be donating cholcoate treats to the girls at Gresley Rovers, after a successful first part of the season. Gresley Rovers Girls FC, is a South Derbyshire based football club for girls aged between 4 – 16, formed in 2022 that provides a safe, fun and friendly environment for girls to play football.

5. Co-Treetment

Our 5^th community giving initiative goes to not-for-profit Co-Treetment. Established in 2019, Co-Treetment specialise in planting trees and the creation of local woodland spaces. Providing carbon capture for companies like us, along with remembrance trees and natural habitats for wildlife to thrive. Co-Treetment plant locally in the East Midlands – and we have helped earlier this year to plant 1,038 silver birch trees – absorbing Carbon as close to where its being created as possible. The trees we planted will absorb 25,950kg of CO2 per year! We’ll be donating money towards an additional 5 trees, while also supporting their fundraising efforst for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre.

6. Burton Hope

On Day 6 of our #12DaysofChristmasCommunity we will be donating 6 bags of food for Burton Hope – a fellow King’s Award winner (for Charities). Burton HOPE was founded in August 2017 to support local people that need help and support. This small charity is staffed by local unpaid volunteers and 100% funded by donations from the local community. Whether it is providing 3-day-emergency-food-parcels, clothing, basic utensils, toiletries, sanitary products or help with obtaining identification documents, which are essential to have in the UK, their team of volunteers selflessly give up their time to help those in need. They also support people going through mental health or addiction problems.

7. Aquabox

We’ve only recently heard about this charity – Aquabox – at a local event from the East Midlands Manufacturing Network, where they kindly shared best practices in lean manufacturing. Aquabox provides safe drinking water and humanitarian aid to people affected by natural disasters, extreme weather and conflicts. Aquabox is a volunteer-led charity. Run almost entirely by volunteers means that 95% of donations go directly to manufacturing the filters and distributing the Aquaboxes. From local volunteers making and assembling the water filters on site then filling the boxes with emergency supplies, to organising the logistics of distribution so the water filters and Aqua-aid boxes get to the very heart of a crisis, means more money goes directly to those who need it the most. We’ll be donating money towards an aqua aid box.

8. Derventio Housing Trust

Money towards 8 festive treat boxes will be donated to Derventio Housing Trust. This local charity provides housing, support and specialist projects in health, employability and personal development. Everything they do uses compassion and human connection to bring hope and opportunities to people in tough situations. Imagine facing Christmas alone, then having to cook Christmas dinner for one and eating it alone. This is the reality for the people that Derventio support. This year they aim to provide 250 of these delicious festive treat boxes to residents this Christmas instead and we are proud to support them.

9. Baton of Hope

Baton of Hope is a charity close to our heart – the UK’s biggest suicide Prevention Initiative. National charity, Baton of Hope is part of a growing movement aspiring to a zero-suicide society. They will simply not tolerate more than 6,000 suicide deaths per year in the UK  when most suicides are preventable. Next year, the Baton of Hope will be passing through Derbyshire #passiton. A donation to this natioanl charity will hopefully contribute to raising awareness about suicide prevention in our Derbsyhire community.

10. Treetops Hospice

With a donation towards 10 refreshments at the Treetops Bereavement Café we aim to support local charity Treetops Hospice. This Hospice provides nursing care and emotional support for anyone affected by a life-limiting illness or bereavement in Derby, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Treetops supports people with illnesses such as cancer, motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis. All services are provided free of charge.

11. Safe & Sound

Safe and Sound support children, young people and families affected by all forms of exploitation, largely sexual and criminal exploitation, but including arranged marriage, trafficking, gangs and county lines. Their vital work ensures that individuals receive the support they need to move forwards in their lives. We will gift money towards 11 Hope Boxes for children supported by Safe & Sound. These specially designed boxes give children and young people a gift packed full of motivation and encouragement.

12. Over the Wall Camp

Over the Wall Camp is a free camp for children and young people with long-term health conditions and disabilities. The UK based charity helps children to discover a world of mischief and magic. They provide a safe place to step outside of comfort zones, establish friendships and build confidence through meaningful and exciting activities in-person at Residential camp, and from home with Camp in the Cloud. And what’s more, the charity is moving to Ockbrook, Derbyshire. For now, we will be donating towards 12 sets of Arts & crafts material for camp.