The new Thompsons staff Charity Committee was elected in June 2017 and were clear that they wanted as much staff involvement in the process of electing charities as possible.

A voting system was used to decide on the type of charities we supported, such as Children, Homeless, Elderly and Mental Health. The staff voted to support a homeless charity and a Mental Health charity throughout the year and the committee members then looked at various local charities that required support.

Loaves and Fishes were a charity that staff showed a particular interest in due to the various aspects that staff could be involved in. Several staff across the Glasgow office were keen to not only fundraise for them but offered to volunteer and provided suggestions on other avenues that we could assist them. This included practical support at the charity; personal support to homeless service users and on a wider political scale to help raise awareness of discrimination they face.

It was important to the committee members to support a charity that we could make a difference to and who could greatly benefit from all the support we provided. We felt that larger more publicised charities can often have regular healthy donations and have the benefit of various resources to assist them in their work. Smaller, less publicised, charities provided an opportunity to assist at a grass root level in assisting the charity to move forward and plan things for the future.

Moving forward, staff have planned several events in support of the charity such as a Christmas Fayre, pub quiz`, Secret Santa donations and food/toiletry donations. The charity have warmly welcomed the support of Thompsons and are keen to work with us as much as possible moving forward.

Flourish House were also a local charity to the Thompsons Glasgow Office and warmly favoured by the committee due to the positive environment and opportunities they provided to people with Mental Health difficulties. Flourish House is a club for people with mental health issues were they are involved in doing all aspects of the running of same.  

Although the charity is not as large and well known as other Mental Health charities, they are ever expanding and involved in many campaigns and events that is increasing the remit of the service. The service focuses on the positive skills of the club members and supports them with emotional, financial and educational needs that they require.

They highlighted many aspects of the charity that they would like to develop that they currently feel they need support with, such as a voice for the discrimination and victimisation that the club members can often face in moving forward. Financial support would allow them to develop further opportunities at the club and invest in new activities also.

This year will be the 20th Birthday of Flourish House and they opened the invite to Thompsons staff to celebrate with them. This will be a celebration of the achievements over the past 20 years and a focus on the ambitions for the future. Flourish House are also keen to attend and assist at the Christmas Fayre which will assist in fundraising and help boost awareness of the charity and its provisions.

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Loaves and Fishes

Loaves and Fishes is a Glasgow based charity that supports people in need. They depend entirely on the generous donations of many individuals, organisations and companies to help people in need by providing a sit down meal, food parcels, clothes and toiletries. Everyone who assists Loaves and Fishes does so on a voluntary basis – so more of the funds they receive go to support the people who need their help. They don’t have any rules about qualifying for support. Their commitment has always been to provide help, and providing it in a safe, comfortable, non-threatening environment. During the winter, they are also able to support homeless people with somewere to sleep with the assistance of St Stephens church.

www.loavesandfishes.org.uk/

Flourish House

Flourish House is an independent Charity established in 1997 which aims to enable people with mental illness to regain purposeful lives in the community. They want people to live in a society where people who have mental health difficulties are valued as neighbours, colleagues and friends. Flourish House is a Clubhouse that enables people with mental health difficulties to gain a sense of well-being. Members recover confidence and skills whilst achieving social, financial and vocational goals.

www.flourishhouse.org.uk

You can make a donation via PayPal below.