SIG UK has announced the two main charities it will be supporting as part of its 2021/22 fundraising initiatives.
Half of all money raised across the next year will be donated to Cancer Research UK, the world’s leading independent cancer charity. In addition, 25% of fundraising proceeds will go to the Rainy Day Trust, Britain’s only charity supporting the home improvement workforce and their families in times of need. The remaining quarter of the money raised will be shared with smaller, local charities nationwide.
SIG employees will be encouraged to participate in a wide range of philanthropic activities, from sporting challenges to mountain hikes, supporting a variety of worthwhile causes.
Ian Dryden, National Specification Manager at SIG, who last year raised more than £7,000 for the Samaritans after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, said: “SIG UK has a long and proud history in supporting good causes of all sizes and we are delighted to confirm our new charity partners.
“One in two people will be touched by cancer in their lifetime, so the work carried out by Cancer Research UK is absolutely vital. We’re only too pleased to be working alongside them and raising money for such an important cause.
“As SIG UK sits at the very heart of the nation’s construction supply chain, it was also essential that we identified a charity which supports those who work within our industry.
“The past year has been incredibly tough for the construction sector, and the Rainy Day Trust has played a pivotal role in supporting construction workers, whether that’s financial support to those in food or fuel poverty, or round-the-clock telephone counselling. We’re proud to have them as our charity partner.”
Vikki Bassek, Fundraising Manager for Cancer Research UK, said: “There are around 367,000 new cancer cases in the UK every year, that's around 1,000 every day (2015-2017).
“The support from the team at SIG UK is hugely important to us and their commitment to playing their part in raising money for life-saving research is fantastic. Thanks to companies like SIG UK, Cancer Research UK’s work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been at the heart of the progress that has seen survival in the UK double in the last 40 years.
“COVID-19 has hit us hard, but we are more focused than ever on our ambition of seeing 3 in 4 people survive their cancer by 2034.
“This past year proves, more than any other, the value of research and what can be achieved together. Just like science is our route out of the pandemic, science is our route to beating cancer.
“That’s why we want to harness the power of our incredible corporate supporters like SIG UK, because the progress we make relies on every hour of research, every pound donated and everyone who gets involved.”
Bryan Clover of the Rainy Day Trust added: "The Rainy Day Trust is delighted to be partnering with SIG UK and to be chosen as their industry charity. As the only charity dedicated to supporting people from the home improvement sector, reaching as wide an audience as possible is absolutely essential if people, be it staff, suppliers or customers, are to receive the help and information that they so desperately need.
“By partnering with SIG UK we can improve the lives of so many people either through direct financial assistance, improved education and training or through the use of our 'free to all' support services including debt or legal advice and telephone counselling.
“There is no need to suffer in silence, and we hope that this partnership will have an impact long beyond the time that it is in place. We are your charity, here to help your people."
