Braving the cold and a downpour, two teams from Maples Day Nursery and West Downs Day Nursery in Winchester ‘slept rough’ to help raise around £30,000 for Mind, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales.
Their employee-owned company, Childbase Partnership, which has 43 day nurseries in the South of England, donated a further £1,680, representing £10 for each person taking part in the fifth annual fund-raising event, to the homeless charity Shelter.
Emerging from sleeping bags on flattened cardboard boxes, the teams of fund-raisers from the two Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ day nurseries in Hatherley Road and Romsey Road said spirits remained high following the company’s announcement of the additional donation.
“To be in a position to help two great causes is a great motivator. One cold, uncomfortable night is nothing really when you consider what these charities can do with the money and the fact that we are all going home to safe, dry and comfortable beds,” said Chelsea Basley, Deputy Manager at Maples Day Nursery.
Jack Meekings, Deputy Manager at West Downs Day Nursery said: “Taking part in this event really changes the way you think about homelessness. How people do this every single night in all weathers, and without an end in sight, is impossible to imagine.”
The team joined nearly 170 colleagues from sister day nurseries in the South of England for the annual event.
The charity Mind, which offers specialised services, advice and support to those living with a mental health problem, was chosen in a company-wide vote as the focus for a year-long fund-raising drive in each of the 43 Childbase Partnership day nurseries and Head Office.
Last year’s drive raised a record £133,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society.
