Stevens Hewlett & Perkins present cheque to The Willow Tree Centre staff

[Pictured above with The Willow Tree Centre staff are Dave Burborough, Leanne Rogers and Camila Magalhaes Silva of SH&P]

As 2024 comes to an end, we are delighted to look back on a fantastic year of fundraising for The Willow Tree Centre, a cause that means so much to us at SH&P.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of our Partners and staff, we have this year raised an incredible total of £2,376.80 to help support the Centre’s vital work.

Making a Difference

The Willow Tree Centre is a registered charity relying entirely on donations to fund the support they provide free of charge to clients.

The Centre is passionately committed to helping women and their partners through traumatic pregnancy crises, such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth and early terminations for medical reasons. They also support those who are struggling with their mental health following abortion.

For one SH&P member of staff, this cause has been deeply personal. They shared:

After suffering a pregnancy loss at just under 6 months, The Willow Tree Centre played a huge part in helping my partner and I process our grief. Pregnancy loss can be a very taboo subject, but it affects so many people. The Willow Tree Centre and their amazing volunteers provided us with a safe place to talk about our feelings and helped us look to the future and move forward. We will be forever grateful for the support that this amazing charity gave us.

Fundraising Highlights

This year’s fundraising efforts were full of creativity, teamwork and fun.

Here are some of the ways SH&P raised funds for The Willow Tree Centre:

  • SH&P February Fitness Challenge: Four teams competed to cover the most kilometres in February by walking, cycling, running, or swimming. At the end of the month, the Partners generously matched the winning team’s total kilometres in pounds, doubling the impact of their efforts.
  • Bake Sale: Our talented team showed off their baking skills, bringing in delicious cakes to sell in the office.
  • Food From Around The World Sale: Staff cooked dishes inspired by their home countries, cities or villages, creating a culinary adventure for all to enjoy.
  • Euro 2024 Sweepstake: A bit of competitive fun during the tournament brought excitement and support for our fundraising efforts.

In early December, we visited the charity to meet with several of their volunteers and to present them with a cheque for the total money raised.

Helen Adair, Centre Director for the Willow Tree Centre, said

During 2024, we have had contact with 133 new clients and given 459 support session appointments. The money raised will ensure that we can continue to offer specialised support free of charge to our clients.

If you would like to learn more about The Willow Tree Centre and how you can get involved, visit their website at www.thewillowtreecentre.org.uk.

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