After a fantastic three years of support from Sainsbury’s superstore in Harrogate, HELP has ‘chequed out’ of the partnership with a total donation of over £11,000.

HELP was chosen by the store as its Local Charity Partner back in July 2014. As well as the extensive fundraising activities, our services has reaped rewards from the awareness raising opportunities in store as well as volunteering support from the store’s Great Place to Work Team.

Members of our Opening Doors service were invited to afternoon tea at Sainsbury’s café to mark the end of the relationship and were presented with the final donation of £1,260 which brings the total raised to £11,460.

Sainsbury’s has been committed to supporting the local community since it launched its Local Charity Partner scheme seven years ago. Richard Slack, PR Ambassador for the Harrogate store, is delighted to have made a difference to HELP and its clients. He said: “On behalf of all our top management and colleagues, I would like to say what a joy it has been working with HELP. Through our partnership, we feel we have been able to make a difference in our local community, supporting the charity wherever possible. Not only through fundraising but also volunteering, we have continued to strengthen our connections within the local area. We wish HELP every success in the future.”

Last year Sainsbury’s was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Corporate Engagement category of the Harrogate & District Volunteering Oscars as recognition of its commitment to HELP and its clients. They have provided hundreds of hours of volunteering support to our Help at Home scheme, transforming the houses and gardens of clients who are unable to tackle the jobs themselves.

Christine Turner, Service Co-ordinator at HELP, says: “The incredible fundraising efforts of the Sainsbury’s staff make a real difference to our charity and the services we provide. But it’s the team’s volunteering efforts that have had a lasting effect on the people we support and we’re very appreciative of the time they have given to our Help at Home service. We are so grateful for the opportunities this partnership has brought and we wish the store all the best with their future charitable activities.”