BUSINESS REPORT HOPE CENTRE IS OUR CHARITY


Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce has chosen the Northampton Hope Centre as its Chamber’s Charity of the Year 2015/16. The charity has been working with the homeless and vulnerable in


Northampton for 40 years, and aims to combat poverty, disability, social deprivation and its causes through day-to-day support. It also wants to provide longer term training and development opportunities which enable clients to progress and hopefully re-integrate into mainstream society. As Charity of the Year, the Northampton Hope Centre will be given


complimentary membership to the Chamber’s Business Alliance Group, enabling it to network with some of the most influential companies in the county, meet with local MPs and attend Chamber events for free. Catherine Maryon, general manager, of the Hope Centre, said: “We are


‘THIS IS A FANTASTIC


OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SPREAD THE


WORD ABOUT OUR WORK’


honoured and delighted to be chosen as the Chamber’s charity of the year for 2015/16. We enjoy enormous support from individuals and businesses in Northampton and our membership of the Chamber is an important part of our connection to the community of the town. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to spread the word about our work with homeless and vulnerable people.” Last year the Chamber supported Northampton


Samaritans. A total of £905 was raised for the charity by Chamber staff and member companies through a series of activities including a Chamber Charity Golf Day and raffle at a Christmas Charity lunch, both held with its


sister organisation Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce. David Atkins, the charity’s acting chairman, said:


“Northampton Samaritans have benefited greatly from being Northamptonshire Chamber’s Charity of The Year. Being able to talk to


Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Northamptonshire Chamber, signs a cheque to David Atkins, acting chairman of Northampton Samaritans, at a Business Alliance Group dinner


WORKING TO CUT LONG-TERM ABSENCE


The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recognises that mental health issues are a major cause of long-term absence in the workplace. It states that lengthy spells of unemployment can be damaging to


individuals, impact on their mental and physical health, as well as hold back economic growth. Maggie Clinton, founder of Wrenwell Health and Wellbeing, is


working collaboratively with Northamptonshire County Council Adult Learning Service on its Learn2B programme to develop and deliver courses that introduce education and coping strategies to support individuals returning to work. The programme provides free


courses in the community for anyone experiencing mental and emotional ill health by supporting individuals in the key skills of motivation, stamina, confidence and self-esteem. Maggie said: “Work is vital for good


health and wellbeing. It is so important for businesses to have support in keeping their teams well. “Once individuals are off sick it puts pressure on the rest of the team


and returning to work following mental illness can feel overwhelming.” Wrenwell provides services for businesses to manage wellbeing in


the workplace and the community. Learn2B also works with charities, including the Chamber’s charity


of the year Northampton Hope Centre as part of their collaborative work with local businesses and partners.


For more details, contact Wrenwell Health and Wellbeing on 07980 399271.


6 inbusiness JUNE/JULY 2015


L-R: Kevin McGuiness (HAE), John Keely, Lee Casebrook, Alison Edmunds and Simon Maher (Niftylift) and Debra Stephenson (Host)


INDUSTRY WIN TAKES NIFTYLIFT EVEN HIRE


Niftylift has been voted Equipment Supplier of the Year at the Hire Awards of Excellence 2015. The powered access


manufacturer, based in Milton Keynes, is celebrating topping the Equipment Supplier of the Year category at the awards run by Hire Association Europe (HAE). The ceremony was attended by


members of Europe’s tool, equipment and event hire industries to acknowledge the successes of the hirers, suppliers and individuals who’ve helped set the standard within the hire


industry. Equipment Supplier of the Year stands out among the HAE awards because it is based purely on votes from members of industry rather than a judging panel. Lee Casebrook, service manager


for Niftylift, said: “We work very hard to develop and maintain good relationships with our customers, so being voted Supplier of the Year really means a lot to us as it’s based on votes from those customers. “It shows us that our customers


value that effort and that we’re doing things right.”


business leaders of the town about the work that we do in the local community has led to us to being given mobile phones from DBfB to help with our fund-raising and publicity team to the generous donation of £905 from the chamber which will enable us to run our branch for nine days.”


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