Holt Recruitment, a Bournemouth-based company, has raised over £2,500 for the local charity Home-Start Wessex after taking on a series of charity challenges in September. The funds will help support families in need, particularly those facing homelessness this Christmas.
The recruitment firm, which specialises in automotive, engineering, and professional services, participated in a week of unique fundraising events. Senior managers set the team a variety of unusual and entertaining tasks, promising to donate each time a challenge was completed. From braving the shave to waxing, Holt’s consultants embraced the spirit of the event in support of Home-Start Wessex.
On the first day, consultants Niki Birrell and Samuel Robinson kicked off the challenge by shaving their heads, followed by a team-wide conga dance through the office on Day 2. Day 3 saw staff pushing themselves with physical exercises, and Day 4 featured a special visit from Home-Start Wessex representative Caroline Pope, who joined the team for a giant Macarena performance. The week culminated in male consultants enduring hot wax strips, with one team member even opting for a permanent tattoo as a symbol of their commitment.
The £2,500 raised by Holt Recruitment will enable Home-Start Wessex to participate in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s largest collaborative fundraising campaign. The charity now has the opportunity to double the donation through match funding provided by Big Give’s Champions, alongside additional public donations during the event, which runs from 3rd to 10th December.
Karen Wheeler, Global Head of Automotive at Holt Recruitment, expressed her pride in the team’s efforts: “We love being corporate partners for Home-Start Wessex, and we’re thrilled to pledge the funds they needed to support young mums in our community this Christmas. The team had a lot of fun with the challenges, and we can’t wait for Christmas to see how far the donations go.”
This is not Holt Recruitment’s first major effort to support the charity. Earlier this year, the team took part in the Zig Zag to Everest Challenge, walking Bournemouth’s zigzag paths to climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest in a single day, raising over £7,000 for Home-Start Wessex.
Caroline Pope, Corporate Partnerships and Marketing Manager at Home-Start Wessex praised Holt Recruitment for their continued support. “The money raised will make a life-changing difference to vulnerable families in our local communities. Holt Recruitment has shown incredible dedication, and we’ve nominated them for the Home-Start UK Corporate Volunteer Award.”
Home-Start Wessex has been working to support families in the region since 1995, offering practical help and advice to those facing difficulties such as mental health issues, bereavement, or domestic abuse. The charity has assisted more than 3,500 families and over 10,000 children across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, and surrounding areas.
For those looking to contribute, donations to Home-Start Wessex during the Big Give Christmas Challenge can be made from 3rd to 10th December via the Big Give website.