The partners and all of our staff would like to thank all of our clients, suppliers, referrers and friends of the firm for their support throughout 2023 and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

In lieu of sending cards and corporate gifts this year, in addition to the support we continue to provide for the HEY Smile Foundation, we have pledged much needed financial support to the following charities. Each charity was chosen by us to help and support members of our community this Christmas and beyond.

Sight Support

Sight Support in Hull provides information, emotional support and opportunities to the blind and partially sighted through their provision of:

• Experienced staff;
• Resource centre;
• Support groups;
• Info-meetings; and
• Leisure/social events

Sight Support rely entirely upon charitable donations, as the government provides no funding at all.

Link: https://www.sightsupport.org/

Hull and East Yorkshire Food Banks

Many of you will recall we have supported Hull and East Yorkshire Food Banks on previous years – these two food banks have a link between them and provide emergency food and support to local men, women and children in crisis. When 1 in 5 people in the UK live below the poverty line, such support is essential for local communities in need.

Links: https://hull.foodbank.org.uk/ | https://eastyorkshire.foodbank.org.uk/

The Sick Children’s Trust - Eckersley House

Part of the national Sick Children’s Trust, Eckersley House supports families of sick children who are transferred to St James’ (affectionately known as Jimmy’s) - the specialist children's hospital for our region. The charity provides a welcoming ‘Home from Home’ where families with a sick child in the hospital can stay. They are much more than just bricks and mortar too. Their wonderful staff are there to provide much-needed support to families through some of the most difficult times imaginable. Without these facilities, families in crisis would have to travel long distances, try to sleep in uncomfortable hospital chairs or pay for expensive hotels just to be by their sick child’s bedside for as long and often as possible.

Link: https://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/homes-from-home/eckersley-house/

Hull Sunday Soup Kitchen

Hull Sunday Soup Kitchen are a group of five friends (including our very own Sue Dunne) who got together following the collapse of a different soup kitchen which operated on a Sunday where they used to volunteer. They decided to fund the kitchen themselves to keep it running.

They help lots of people who attend the kitchen not just the homeless, some are very vulnerable adults who, although have somewhere to live, are not living in very good conditions and are very lonely. They come along to the soup kitchen to have a chat and something to eat. The team provide a hot meal followed by a pudding and then everyone who attends is given a pack up bag containing a sandwich, crisps, biscuits/bun and a drink – this is all dependent on what donations they have received. The team cook the meals at home in advance.

From their own families and friends the team receive donations of clothing, bedding, toiletries, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, socks, gloves, hats, etc which they give out each week to whoever needs them.

They also have a Facebook page – Hull Sunday Soup Kitchen for anyone wanting more information.

Humber Rescue

Humber Rescue is an independent charity that supplies fast response search and rescue operations on the Rivers Humber, Ouse, Trent, and Hull. Humber Rescue is funded entirely by donations, they receive no funding from the government and are independent of the RNLI. Humber Rescue has been operating since 1990 and is a vital emergency response to anyone that lives in proximity to the River Humber, massing up to an average of 110 callouts each year. It is one of the busiest independent lifeboats in the United Kingdom.

Link: https://www.humber-rescue.co.uk/

Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University

Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University is another local charity that works with children growing up in disadvantaged areas of Hull and East Yorkshire who may not have the same opportunities as others. They help create dreams for the future for these children by providing experiences to broaden horizons and raise aspirations such as London Experiences, days with local businesses learning about a particular industry or intergenerational experiences, bringing the young and elderly together.

Link: https://www.hullchildrensuniversity.com/