Witham Group Raises £7,000 for Charity at Annual Ball

We are proud to announce that we successfully hosted our annual charity ball on the 18^{th of} January, raising a fantastic £7,000 for our four charities of the year.

The event, held at the DoubleTree Hilton in Lincoln, brought together team members, suppliers, and customers, from all over the UK for an evening of celebration and fundraising. A lively auction and raffle, featuring generously donated prizes from team members, their families, and business partners, contributed significantly to the impressive total.

Proceeds from the ball were shared equally between the four deserving charities which were chosen individually by members of the Witham team:

• The Lewis Foundation: Providing care packages to cancer patients with life-limiting conditions in hospitals across the Midlands.
• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People): Providing vital services to people living with sight loss.
• LRSN (Lincolnshire Rural Support Network): Offering crucial support to farmers and rural communities.
• Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes Service: Delivering essential medical supplies to hospitals across the county.

The cheque presentations took place at Witham Group’s head office in Lincoln with representatives from each of the charities.

Neville Wright, Chair of the Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes Service said:

“We are very grateful to have received this donation from Witham Group, which will help us supply Blood, Plasma, Blood Samples, Pharmaceutical, Surgical Instrument’s, Breast Milk and many other much needed supplies between the Hospitals in Lincolnshire.  It also helps us to supply fresh blood to the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance every evening, 365 days per year.

In 2024 we carried out 2673 jobs, travelling 195,950 miles. All of this was “Free of Charge” to the NHS and is funded with the donations like the one we have received from Witham Group. This is all achieved with a fleet of 17 vehicles and 150 volunteers who give up their valuable time. On behalf of LEBBS. THANK YOU.”

A spokesperson for the Lewis Foundation commented:

“It was a fantastic surprise to discover the Witham Group had chosen to support The Lewis Foundation. Support like this makes the work we do possible to enable us to provide a variety of our care packs such as overnight sets, puzzle books and more, which helps to pass the time and provide comfort to an adult diagnosed with cancer in the hospital setting. Thank you to everyone who took part on the night to make the work we do possible. Every pack costs £3.60, so the support given will help a lot of patients and their families in the Lincolnshire area.”

Nigel R Bottom, Managing Director of Witham Group added; “We are incredibly proud of the generosity shown by everyone who participated in our Charity Ball. The £7,000 raised will make a real difference to the lives of many people in need. Charity support and putting something back into our communities is deeply ingrained in our company culture. We are committed to supporting our local communities and making a positive impact on society.”

The annual Charity Ball, has become a tradition of the business since 1993, is just one of the many ways Witham Group supports charitable causes throughout the year, raising in excess of £140,000 for good causes since then.

We also recognise employee dedication, with 8 long-serving team members honoured at the event for reaching significant milestones of 5, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years, along with their Team Member of the Year.

ABOUT THE CHARITIES

The Lewis Foundation source, package and hand deliver free gifts and support packs to adult cancer patients in hospital every week with items they might find difficult to buy themselves or simply cannot afford. It can be a sad, frightening and lonely experience for individuals undergoing cancer treatment, and for many people in hospital, their volunteers are their only regular visitors. The charity gives out just over 2500 gifts a month to adult cancer patients in 17 different hospitals.

RNIB – The Royal National Institute of Blind, is the UK’s leading sight loss charity. RNIB offer practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people, their families and carers. They raise awareness of the experiences of blind and partially sighted people and campaign for change to make our society more accessible for all. Their goal is to change our world so there are no barriers to people with sight loss.

Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes Service is responsible for transporting critical medical supplies across the county and beyond. In the critical moments when time is of the essence, and medical professionals need vital supplies transported swiftly and securely, these unsung heroes spring into action. They are the silent saviours of our healthcare system, offering a lifeline that connects donors, hospitals, and patients in need all relying on funding by volunteers and public donations.

The Lincolnshire Rural Support Network is a volunteer-led organisation that provides pastoral and practical support to Lincolnshire’s farming and horticultural communities during periods of anxiety, stress, and problems relating to their families and businesses. Amongst its many services LRSN offers, drop-in centres, one to one visits, mobile health screening and a 24 hour helpline. The number of enquiries has this year risen by 93% so donations are needed now more than ever before.