Blenheim Extending Support Of Local Charity SeeSaw Into 2021
Blenheim has confirmed Oxfordshire-based grief support charity SeeSaw as its official Charity of the Year 2021.
The continued partnership will build on the success of SeeSaw as Blenheim's Charity of the Year 2020, which saw more than £11,000 raised to help achieve the charity’s mission of providing grief support for bereaved children, young people and their families in Oxfordshire.
As part of the continued support in 2021, Blenheim will be working with SeeSaw to undertake a series of fundraising and awareness-building activities and events throughout the year, including a sponsored Sunrise Walk event in September.
Last year’s Sunrise Walk was a great success; on 20th September 2020 more than 200 people took part in the sponsored walk held at Blenheim Palace in memory of loved ones. Over £10,000 was raised for the charity, far exceeding fundraising expectations.
“One of Blenheim’s overarching goals is to support and raise money for local charities, and each year we invite all our staff to decide on a locally-based charity to support,” said Dominic Hare, Blenheim Chief Executive Offer.
“SeeSaw provides an incredibly important resource for young people facing the worst possible news, and offers them help and support to cope with and understand their grief.
“We were delighted to work with SeeSaw in 2020 and saw some great successes. However, due to the pandemic restrictions we were not able to support them in 2020 quite as we usually would, so we are delighted to be help raise awareness and funds again in 2021 for such a hugely worthwhile charity,” he added.
“The fabulous support from Blenheim in 2020 has been so valuable. As a result of the partnership and the subsequent funds raised, the SeeSaw team has been able to support grieving children and families by phone, email, text and video call – as well as via the development of a wide range of new resources,” said Jane Elliot, Fundraiser at SeeSaw.
“We have very much enjoyed working with the team at Blenheim and it’s wonderful they have chosen to extend our relationship into 2021. We are looking forward to holding various events during the year when it is safe to do so, including our Sunrise Walk in September,” she added.
As a registered charity, SeeSaw relies on its own fundraising for over 85% of its grief support costs. Since its launch in 2000, SeeSaw has supported over 6,639 children from 3,957 families to reduce the emotional, psychological and mental health consequences of bereavement.
A study by Oxford Brookes Business School showed Blenheim donated and raised money to a total of £3.5 million to local projects and charities between April 2018 - March 2019.
For more information about SeeSaw visit www.seesaw.org.uk