Colleagues from Aon’s Leeds office have raised £2,400 for Zarach, a Leeds-based charity on a mission to lift children out of child poverty.
Following the refurbishment of its Number One Embankment office, global professional services firm Aon sold the office furniture and donated the funds raised to the charity, which aims to support the 894,000 children in the UK without a proper bed.
The donation is one of a number of initiatives that the Aon team has undertaken to support the charity over the past three years. The funds will enable Zarach to provide 16 children and young people with a bed and bedding.
By selling the furniture and giving it a second life, Aon has also ensured that the items have not ended up in landfill and avoided the associated carbon emissions.
Ellie McGrath, Fundraising and Communications Manager at Zarach, said: “This initiative from Aon is such a brilliant way to see more children lifted out of bed poverty. Zarach works closely with local schools to take referrals and our family engagement team is in touch with families within 48 hours. Support like this from Aon gives us confidence that we can keep operating at this pace, meeting the need and growing our national presence. Thank you!”
Suzanne Gott, at Aon in Leeds, said: “The rise in the cost of living has exacerbated child poverty, causing families to prioritise food, heating and other essentials over buying a bed. Zarach’s aim is to support these families by ensuring children and young people have a comfortable bed, providing them with a good night’s sleep, and helping them to perform better in education as well as improving their physical and mental health.
“Aon is committed to making a positive difference in the communities it serves and, as part of our ESG strategy, to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, through pursuing sustainable business solutions.
“By selling the furniture we have both reduced our carbon emissions and helped Zarach to continue helping vulnerable children and families living in poverty.”
