VIVID staff kickstart fundraising efforts for local charity

On Friday 8 October, 6 VIVID staff members completed a half marathon charity walk along The Solent Way raising over £1,100 for the charity One Small Thing, and its new pioneering project for women and their children, Hope Street, in Southampton.  

This was the first fundraising initiative VIVID has embarked on to raise money for One Small Thing, since it announced the charity as its new staff appointed partner. The team walked The Solent Way to kickstart the partnership as the scenic route links VIVID’s head office in Portsmouth, with One Small Thing’s base in Southampton. Staff split into two groups, starting at each office and walking a half marathon meeting in the middle at Hill Head near Fareham. 

VIVID has committed to raise £10k for One Small Thing through a variety of staff fundraising activities including sports matches, baking competitions and sponsored bike rides. All money raised will support One Small Thing to open its Hope Street project in Southampton next year.  

Hope Street will be a purpose-built residential network where women, who are in contact with the justice system, can live safely with their children to rebuild their lives. Whilst living at Hope Street, women can continue to meet the requirements of their community sentence and receive the therapy, treatment and support they need. Hope Street will launch in Southampton and will be evaluated to provide a blueprint for other projects for women and children across the country.  

Staff at VIVID chose One Small Thing and Hope Street as their charity partner as they identified much synergy between the two organisations, both providing safe and secure homes in tandem with support services to improve life chances so customers can have brighter futures. 

Cathryn Gee, Head of People at VIVID said, “We’re delighted to have kickstarted our fundraising efforts for One Small Thing. Money raised by VIVID will support One Small Thing in getting to the final stages of their build to open Hope Street next year which includes a women’s community hub, housing and a creche. Our funds will go to help refurbish the housing element of the project to ensure women and their children have a safe and homely space to rebuild and move forward with their lives.  

“We have lots of colleagues who want to get involved and ‘give back’ over and above what they do on a day-to-day basis, so we have lots of fun and exciting activities planned over the next year for everyone to get involved in and raise money for such a great project.” 

Claire Hubberstey, Chief Executive of One Small Thing said, “We are delighted that VIVID has chosen One Small Thing as its charity partner.  Creating spaces that enable people to thrive matter deeply to us.  Fundraising together will contribute towards our trauma informed services, particularly as we move forward with the development of Hope Street, a residential community for women in Southampton.”   

Donate to One Small Thing’s Hope Street project here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wearevividhomes