Shop Direct has raised £440,000 in just 12 months to digitally equip Claire House’s new site which will support hundreds of seriously and terminally ill children in Liverpool and the wider North West.
Last year the 4,700-strong team voted for Claire House Children’s Hospice as its charitable partner of the year for 2016/17.
The charity helps seriously ill children live life to the full by creating wonderful experiences and bringing a sense of normality to family life.
Since then, colleagues across the etail giant’s sites in Liverpool and Manchester have undertaken a variety of fundraising activities including a charity ball for over 1,000 people, mountain climbing, fun days, worldwide marathons, skydiving, cycling and a digital dog show.
Alex Baldock, group CEO at Shop Direct, said: “We’re passionate about the North West and helping our local communities, but even we were blown away by the huge, huge difference Claire House makes in the lives of children and their families.
“It’s a charity that’s close to a lot of our colleagues’ hearts, and we were all delighted to support them.
“Everyone at Shop Direct has got behind Claire House in some style; raising more than we’ve ever raised before in a charity partnership and smashing our original £400,000 target.
“Our colleagues’ ambition and commitment has been inspirational; from the person who is completing seven marathons to the colleague who got a Claire House tattoo.
“We’re delighted that the money we’ve raised will help to transform the charity’s new site, making a massive difference to children and their families’ for years to come.
“We can’t wait for the next stage of our partnership, which will see us work together on a cutting-edge multimedia suite.”
Shop Direct has worked with Claire House to form a new innovation board, which is helping the charity to define what a world class digital hospice is and deliver the plans, which will create a lasting legacy for the North West.
The corporate partnership, which is Claire House’s biggest to date, has helped the charity put in place futureproof digital infrastructure like cabling, Wi-Fi and server technology at its new site located in the West Derby area of Liverpool.
In addition, Claire House is modernising paper-based systems so its teams can deliver a more personalised service while caring for children in their own homes, as well as at the site.
The team at Shop Direct is also helping to fund and design an interactive multi-media suite for use by the children and families who visit the centre. It will include cutting-edge technology and innovative sensory treatments.
David Pastor, chief executive at Claire House, said: “Not only has this been Claire House’s largest corporate partnership, it’s been one of our most successful, with both organisations working closely together on a common goal; to support the children and families we care for.
“We’re so grateful to everyone at Shop Direct who have got behind our cause so wholeheartedly and really helped us kick start our journey to reaching every family that needs us.”