This year, Reach once again took part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest match funding campaign, reaching our £25,000 fundraising target in just one week. The Big Give week began on Giving Tuesday and ran from 3^rd-10^th December…

The Big Give helps to connect charities, their supporters and philanthropists by matching donations through partnerships with over 20 funding Champions, including The Childhood Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This enables public donations to be doubled. Now in its 12^th year, the 2019 Big Give has raised the largest amount to date: 41,717 donations combined to provide over £15.6 million for the 588 participating charities.

Our fundraising goal was comprised of three pots of funding: £7,500 from local pledgers, £5,000 from funding champion The Reed Foundation and £12,500 from public donations made online during the matched funding week. The Big Give doubled the impact of people’s gifts, meaning that for every £10 donated, Reach received £20.

Funds raised will support Reach’s ongoing and diverse project entitled My Place, which supports people with learning disabilities to become more confident, independent and active citizens in their local community. The doubled donations will enable Reach’s expert staff to deliver the 55 courses and activities it currently provides across the Southwell, Newark, Mansfield and Flower Pod centres. Reach believes that everyone has the right to share in community life; the services Reach provide help clients to increase their self-belief and to learn the new and meaningful skills necessary to take part in their community.

Reach Fundraising Director, Julia Sandhu, expressed her appreciation: “On behalf of everyone at Reach, we want to thank donors for their compassion and support. It is their generosity and belief in our mission that enables us to ensure a good future for local people with learning disabilities. It has been moving to see the continued commitment of our local community in helping us reach our target. Securing these vital funds will directly benefit people with learning disabilities in our community.”

Steve Shatwell, Reach Chief Executive, added: “I would like to thank our staff, volunteers and community members for this exceptional achievement and for their unrivalled dedication and support. As we know that our services will be required for many more decades, our fundraising needs to continue throughout the year. We’ll need to raise £300,000 in 2020 in voluntary income just to keep our services at the current level. With more resources we could reach more people with learning disabilities in the county who are in desperate need of support.”

For information on how to donate to Reach, please visit www.reachuk.org, or contact Sarah on sarah.cobb@reachuk.org or 01636 819066.