As we reflect on the incredible year that’s been, it’s clear that 2024 has been a year of giving, growing, and strengthening our ties to the communities we serve. From swapping football boots to soaring through the skies, Howden teams have gone above and beyond to support meaningful causes, foster local connections, and make a difference.
Whether through the power of a shared cup of coffee, a marathon stride, or a simple act of kindness, our journey this year has been one of heartfelt contributions and unwavering commitment to the people and causes that matter most.
Here’s a roundup of our 2024 fundraising highlights, raising money for all kinds of charities; local health services, community food banks, sports teams and more. Take a look at how our Howden team have helped.
Community collections and connections
This year, we’ve been blown away by the power of donations. Since launching our first branch boot exchange last year, where you can swap, donate, or collect a pair of football boots for free, we’ve now got boot exchanges at almost 30 branches and swapped over 600 pairs of boots!
What’s more, we’ve been able to go one step further and set up book exchanges across our branch network. Our goal is to help more people enjoy reading and improve literacy rates, with free access to books on a community level. These have been a real hit, and we can’t wait to see even more people swapping books this year!
Just as we strive to be a Force For Good in your community, equally, we’re always blown away by all the support you give us in return. When we collected for local foodbanks in Winchester, Chelmsford, Bournemouth, Poole, Witney, Eastbourne, Bromsgrove, Chichester, Sevenoaks, it was heartening to have so many donations from local people.
We even had one generous competition winner as us to use his prize money as a donation to a local foodbank. So, we decided to double the prize, and donate £1,000’s worth of food to West Berkshire Food Bank! The same can be said for our ‘Care for a Cuppa’ events, launched this year to collect sanitary products donations in Solihull – local people gave over 250 items to help combat period poverty.
As the year came to a close, we joined Cash4Kids’ Mission Christmas to help spread festive magic to children who might otherwise have little to look forward to on the big day. From a cosy set of pyjamas or the toy they’ve been wishing for, each donation means a child has a magical Christmas memory and a moment of joy.
Every step counts!
At Howden, we believe in a no-limits approach to all that we do. And we’ll go to great lengths to raise money for the causes that matter to you – 10km, 20km, even marathons! Just take a look at all our runners below, who raised money for a range of important causes:
It’s not just runners either; we had teams completing the 25km-long Thames Bridges Trek in support of Yellow Submarine, a charity that supports children and young people with Autism and Learning Difficulties, raising over £2,000, and the Edinburgh Kiltwalk to raise money for Strathcarron Hospice. Our Exeter branch raised over £500, walking seven miles for Hospicare, while our Bromsgrove branch took part in the Hanbury Hall memorial walk for the Primrose Hospice. And Office Manager Tracey Taylor completed the March in March from Eastbourne to Brighton, raising vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans via Combat Stress.
Kickabouts with a cause
Sport can be a powerful way of bringing people together to support important causes; and nothing does this quite like the beautiful game! In May, our five-a-side football tournament brought together 96 people in 13 teams, all playing to raise more than £1,200 for Maggie’s, our official charity partner dedicated to supporting those affected by cancer.
Another memorable event was James Brown’s memorial fundraiser with Alton FC, honouring his Dad and raising almost £2,400 for SADS (Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome) awareness. Additionally, our Howden Chichester proudly sponsored JWL657 Charity Football Match, in support of Breast Cancer awareness and research.
Our community-minded football efforts continued with the Redditch and Bromsgrove branches’ walking football match, which raised £350 in celebration of life, honouring the memory of team member Priya’s mother. This heartfelt fundraiser will provide food and school supplies for children in Pakistan, making an impact across borders. Through these kickabouts, we’re not just playing games; we’re actively supporting causes that matter to our clients and communities.
Sweet treats for good deeds
This year, our teams across Howden have been baking, brewing, and sharing treats to raise money for causes that make a difference. Our branches hosted Macmillan Coffee Mornings, bringing people together over coffee and cakes to support the invaluable work Macmillan does for those affected by cancer. In Taunton, the team raised over £176 with a bake sale to support Love Musgrove Hospital, helping fund vital resources and care for the community.
Meanwhile, our Shirley branch took a unique approach, joining their Muslim colleagues in fasting during Ramadan. This gesture of solidarity went beyond raising awareness; it also gathered donations for local charities. The team raised over £200 for The Food Distribution Project in Kenya and the East London Mosque Trust. Through these heartfelt efforts, we’re showing that even the simplest acts—like sharing a coffee or a cake—can support communities and strengthen bonds across cultures and causes.
Giving back is time well spent
We also believe in dedicating time to strengthen the communities around us. Our Alton team has been actively involved with the Alton Foodbank, with two branch members volunteering daily to prepare Christmas treat bags for those in need. By ensuring everyone can experience some seasonal cheer, they’re spreading a message of hope and kindness during the holidays.
In Southend, our Primo team collaborated with Southend City BID, local businesses, and supporters to tidy the high street as part of the Great British Spring Clean 2024. The effort brought the community together to keep shared spaces vibrant and clean. Similarly, our Thatcham branch has partnered with ‘Plastic Free Thatcham’ and ‘ECO Friends West Berkshire’ to tackle litter in local greenspaces. Every piece of litter is logged by brand and type, contributing valuable data to highlight the role major brands play in environmental pollution.
Our Tooting branch also pitched in at the Dementia Garden at St George’s Hospital, helping to maintain a calming, restorative space for patients and families affected by dementia. Through these efforts, our teams demonstrate that giving back to our communities is always time well spent.
Taking to the skies
And to round off how we’ve done more for ’24, our team members have been reaching new heights—literally!—to support charities close to their hearts. Katie Brisland and Niamh Howard bravely took to the skies for a wing-walking challenge, raising over £900 for Cash for Kids. Their high-flying adventure drew support and donations, making a meaningful difference in the lives of children in need. We also saw Bath’s Craig Pope and Holly Johnson braving the heights of St Stephen’s Church to raise £300 together and awareness for Genesis Trust Bath.
Not to be outdone, our CEO Kelly Ogley and 21 Howden colleagues embarked on a thrilling abseil down one of London’s tallest buildings, The Leadenhall Building, in support of Maggie’s, taking on the heights to raise awareness and funds for this vital cancer support charity – over £20,000 in total! In another awe-inspiring feat, Lorraine Cooper conquered her fear of heights with a skydive, also in support of Maggie’s, raising £1,300. With every leap and descent, our teams are showing that no challenge is too great when it comes to giving back.
The causes that matter to you
We take pride in supporting the diverse causes that are important to our clients, colleagues, and communities. Every effort reflects our commitment to making a difference for the causes that matter most to you.
In Farnham, we hosted a fundraising quiz night in support of Brightwells Gostrey, bringing people together for a fun evening to raise much-needed funds. They managed to raise over £2,600 on the night! Meanwhile, our Chichester team made a special donation to the Paediatric Ward at My University Hospitals Sussex—a mini Lamborghini toy car to bring smiles to young patients during their hospital stays.
Our colleagues have also taken on personal challenges for charity. Sarah Evans generously cut and donated her hair to the Little Princess Trust, helping provide wigs for children facing medical hair loss and raising £850 in the process. Dariusz Brzezicha from Pol-Plan Tooting raised funds for the Coalville Community and Neighbours Centre to support the reopening of RAF Ingham Heritage’s Polish Air Force Bomber Squadron Museum and in Bath, Abi Brinkhurst demonstrated incredible endurance with a 24-hour pool marathon.
Here’s to 2025!
As the chapter of 2024 closes, we’re looking ahead to what 2025 has in store! The year ahead promises to be filled with exciting opportunities to make a difference. At Howden, we’re committed to doing even more for the causes that matter most to our clients, colleagues, and communities. Together, let’s keep the momentum going, turning small actions into lasting change. Here’s to another year of giving back, stepping up, and making every effort count!