The Reed Foundation has officially concluded its year-long charitable initiative, donating £520,000 to 52 different charities across the UK.
In celebration of Reed’s 65th anniversary, and founder Sir Alec Reed’s 90th birthday, £10,000 was donated each week to charities nominated by Reed employees, creating a ripple effect of positive change for countless communities.
This initiative highlights Reed’s enduring commitment to supporting charitable organisations across diverse causes, from funding vital research into childhood brain tumours to facilitating compassionate end-of-life care in local hospices. Each donation tells a story of hope, resilience and impact.
Here’s a closer look at some of the charities* supported:
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Samuel’s Promise received a £10,000 donation to support research into low-grade brain tumours. This fund, created in memory of Samuel Priestley, is dedicated to improving surgical advancements and outcomes for children battling brain tumours. Niketa Johnson – a Public Sector Recruitment Consultant based in Reed’s Leicester office, nominated the charity as she works closely with Samuel’s father, Keith Priestley, and recognises the impact the research will have. Speaking on the donation, Keith said: “I was really taken aback when Niketa picked Samuel’s charity. The donation will make a massive difference – brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, yet the condition only receives three percent of research spend.”
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The Myton Hospices also benefited from a donation, which was put towards expanding its care offerings, including hiring more nurses to provide specialist end-of-life care.
Kayleigh Hersey, who nominated Myton after they cared for her father, shared: “For dad, being at home was the number one thing. The fact the charity could do that for us left a great memory for him, that in his dying days he could be at home, and for us as a family that we could be with him. This money will be life-changing for people and will enable the charity to get more staff, provide more support and to reach out to more people in the community.”
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The Final Straw Foundation, based in Emsworth, Hampshire, received a donation to support its beach cleans across the south coast and works to maintain ocean health.
Speaking about the donation, Bianca Carr, CEO of the Final Straw Foundation, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Reed Foundation for its generous funding, which will allow us to continue delivering our Wild Beach School programme over the coming year. This initiative is a core part of our environmental education outreach, helping to connect young people with nature and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.”
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Little Miracles Charity, a Peterborough-based charity, received a donation towards its work supporting families who have children with additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting conditions. Speaking about the donation,
Louise Evans, Head of Income Generation at Little Miracles, said: “We are so grateful to Reed for its incredibly generous donation of £10,000. We rely almost entirely on voluntary donations and quite simply couldn’t do the work we do without the amazing support of incredible organisations like Reed. With this support, we can continue to be here to help children be themselves, have fun and make memories that will last forever.”
Reflecting on the successful initiative, Sir Alec Reed, CBE, commented: “Through the charity raffle I wanted to share the joy of giving and provide an opportunity for our co-members to support the causes that are close to their hearts. I have been moved and inspired by the personal stories that have informed many of the co-member’s charity choices and would like to thank everyone who took part.”
Since its inception in 1985, the Reed Foundation has donated more than £22.5 million to charitable organisations, including those supported through its innovative match-funding platform, the Big Give. Since 2008, the Big Give has helped to raise over £280 million for more than 16,000 charity projects.
For more information on the Reed Foundation and its charitable initiatives, visit reed.com.
