City-based asset management company, BlackRock, announced today Children’s Hospices across London (CHaL) as its Charity of the Year partner for 2014/15.

CHaL is a network of five children’s hospices, including - chYps at EllenorLions (Dartford), Haven House (Woodford Green), Noah’s Ark (Barnet), Richard House (Beckton) and Shooting Star Chase (Hampton and Guildford).

This is the first City-wide partnership for CHaL and signifies an important step forward in hospice collaboration across London.

All five hospices operate at the heart of their communities, offering specialist health and social care support to life-limited children and their families across London and its surrounding boroughs.

The partnership will also reach out to families in Peterborough as East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) in Milton, Cambridge will be working with CHaL to support BlackRock staff fundraising in Peterborough.

Launched on 8 September, staff will have the opportunity to take part in a hospice to hospice cycle challenge, a Kilimanjaro trek as well as personal and team challenges throughout the year.

Employees will also be able to use their two BlackRock-sponsored charity days to volunteer with their local children’s hospice.

These opportunities will include participation in hospice events, retail challenges in hospice shops, as well as gardening and maintenance tasks.

Mike Palfreman, Chief Executive of Haven House in Woodford Green, said on behalf of CHaL, “Being chosen as BlackRock’s charity of the year is a real coup for children’s hospices across London. It is the first time we have collaborated on this scale and we hope to use the network to secure more fundraising opportunities in the City and beyond.

“The BlackRock charity committee have already put together an exciting calendar of events to help employees engage with their local children’s hospice with the aim of raising as much as £500,000 for CHaL. These vital funds will help us to provide specialist nursing care to children with life-limiting conditions, and much-needed emotional and social support to their families across London and Peterborough.”

James Charrington, Chairman of BlackRock EMEA and Chair of BlackRock GIVES London said, “Responsibility is at the heart of our business, not only for our clients and employees, but in the communities where we work and live. We are delighted to be supporting such a worthy cause and excited to begin our fundraising efforts with them.”

To find out more about the partnership click here.