The gunnercooke foundation supports 11 charities through Christmas Care Box campaign 

During Autumn 2022, whilst working with charities supported by the gunnercooke foundation, the team were made aware of one very specific hardship that people were facing due to the cost-of-living crisis. People were now having to choose between staying clean, staying fed or staying warm.  

Whilst people were able to access food via food banks and there was some help for energy costs, there wasn’t any direct support for helping people get the toiletries and hygiene products that they needed.  

This is when the gunnercooke foundation decided to do their bit to help. The foundation invited nominations from charity members for individuals and families that needed a Christmas Care Box. This led to 11 charities coming back with a requirement of 396 boxes. Boxes were needed for men, women, children (under 12) and babies.  

The foundation team started a JustGiving site, an Amazon ‘wishlist’ and reached out to  the entire gunnercooke team to help donate products. Donations for new, unopened toiletries were accepted in both the London and Manchester offices.  

The boxes were filled with key hygiene products, such as deodorant and razors for men, sanitary products and shampoo for women, toothbrush, toothpaste and shampoo for kids, and nappy bags, wipes and shampoo for babies. Each box also had a small pampering treat, such as a small hand cream or lip balm. Each babies box also had an Amazon gift card so that the parents could buy the right size nappy for their baby. 

The boxes acted as Christmas gifts for some people, with one recipient saying: “’The children asked whether I had been naughty last year as there wasn’t a present under the tree for me – this year I will have one!’’  

Helen Anjomshoaa, Surrey Coalition for Disabled People said: “The disabled people we have nominated are already in, or very close to slipping into, poverty and your help will genuinely make a difference to their lives”.  

gunnercooke’s office services teams in Manchester and London volunteered for the receipt of all donations and 60% of the Manchester Head Office team got involved in the making and packing of boxes, with many of them using one of their paid charity days. 

gunnercooke employees and the wider team made financial contributions, purchases and donations to the value of £4,471. The foundation hired a part-time campaign manager for the duration of the campaign which helped to ensure the success of the campaign and there was a large corporate toiletry donation, which helped fund a further £3,500 of stock.  

The donations received meant that extra boxes were made and that we could distribute bulk deliveries of toiletries to several Manchester charities well into the New Year.  

Laura Jones, Foundation Director at gunnercooke foundation, said: “I’m so proud of all the hard work and dedication that the team put in, and we’re all happy knowing that the Christmas Care boxes directly helped those that were struggling the most at Christmas.” 

The gunnercooke foundation works with 80 charities across the UK, through its mentor-led inspire* hubs, which helps third sector leaders to grow their organisations. Its work with WrapUp London won Project of the Year at the Business Charity Awards 2021.  

To find out more about the work of gunnercooke foundation visit the website here.