Each year Paul Andrews and the team at Family Business United embark on a week-long charity campaign in the run up to the festive season tackling the issue of homelessness in the UK.

As partners on various events, the team at The Family Business Network are delighted to support the campaign that brings the family business community together to make a real difference.

This year the #FamilyBizSantaDash in conjunction with Plan Insurance will be travelling around the South West of the UK collecting warm clothes and donations of CD’s and DVD’s to convert to cash to donate to the charity Centrepoint UK who work to alleviate youth homelessness across the UK.

The family business community is getting involved the length and breadth of the country by:

• Collecting warm clothes (hats, coats and scarves) to donate to the campaign
• Collecting DVD’s and CD’s and sending them to the team at FBU or converting them via the app ‘Music Magpie’ and submitting the donation
• Sponsoring the 2019 #FamilyBizSantaDash van
• Making a donation to the campaign
• Donating the ‘cost of a cuppa’ to help make a difference

As Paul Andrews, Founder of FBU and organiser of the Santa Dash explains, “Christmas is a time for families but there are plenty of people across the country who, for whatever reason, are away from their families without a home and it goes against the very essence of who we are as an organisation not to do something to help.  This is the third year in a row that we are doing the Santa Dash which involves a week collecting and distributing clothes to those in need and at the same time raising awareness of the work of the charity and raising funds for them too.  It costs just £12 a month to house someone and get them off the streets with access to much needed support services so we know that our efforts will make a massive difference to the lives touched by the funds raised.  It is our way of spending some time to give something back and make a difference and it is always outstanding to see the level of support that we get for this annual campaign.”

The 2019 route will see the first collection at New Wave Marine in Plymouth on Monday 2 December before visits to family firms in the South West en route back to Surrey that will include Brewers Decorator Centres, Pattersons, MJ Baker Foodservice, Hanbury Autogil, Bath Ales and Taxi Studio amongst others.

As Paul concludes, “There is real meaning to this event as well as there being a fun element and getting behind the scenes of some fantastic family firms too.  We live in uncertain times and the family business community already does a lot to help the communities and causes which they hold so dear but if anyone is able to get involved and make a donation every penny helps.  Visit the just giving page here to make a donation and help us make a real difference this Christmas.”

for anyone that would like to make a donation, here is the link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/familybusinesssantadash2019