City-based asset management company BlackRock has raised £844,182 for Children’s Hospices across London (CHaL), in its most successful charity collaboration to date.

BlackRock launched its Charity of the Year partnership with CHaL, a consortium of five independent children’s hospices in London and its surrounding boroughs in September 2014.

CHaL children’s hospices to benefit from the funds include Ellenor Hospice in Dartford, Haven House in Woodford Green, Noah’s Ark in Barnet, Richard House in Beckton and Shooting Star Chase in Hampton and Guildford.

Funds raised from the partnership will be used to support the 2,000 children and families using hospice services as well as explore the feasibility of several London-wide projects, including a 24-hour home support service.

Initially set to run for 12 months, the BlackRock partnership was extended to December 2015. On 5 Febuary 2016 it was announced that the partnership had raised £844,182 for CHaL, exceeding its £500,000 target and had engaged more than 300 BlackRock employees in volunteering.

The partnership saw staff put on a number of new fundraising events such as the BlackRock Rowathon and the ‘Trial by Trivia’ City-wide quiz. They also organised their own unique challenges such as Mount Kilimanjaro trek and a cycle ride from Venice to Rome.  

Staff were encouraged to support the partnership by using their two company-sponsored charity days to volunteer at their local children’s hospice. They assisted with hospice family events, helped in local hospice charity shops and participated in maintenance and gardening tasks.   

In November, the Business Secretary, Sajid Javid, commended BlackRock for the partnership and said it was a strong example of “what can be achieved for the hospice sector”.

Speaking today, Peter Ellis, CHaL Chairman, said: “Our partnership with BlackRock has been a complete game changer for fundraising in the children’s hospice sector. Not only has it raised an unprecedented amount for CHaL, but it has also embedded a new strategic approach showing how smaller hospices can work together to achieve maximum financial return from major corporate partnerships.

“We would like to thank BlackRock for making an immeasurable difference to the lives of life-limited children and their families across in London.”

Stephen Whyman, a Director at BlackRock and Chair of BlackRock’s Charity of the Year 2015, said: “BlackRock is committed to supporting charitable causes that deliver a positive impact for people in the communities that we serve. The focus of the partnership wasn’t just on raising much-needed funds but on the engagement of our staff.

“CHaL has given us a unique opportunity to have staff actively volunteering across London and the support from staff has meant that we have had our best-ever fundraising year and doubled the number of recorded staff volunteering days.

“The partnership model adopted by CHaL has also enabled us to utilise a much wider range of skills and experiences from across the five hospices. CHaL is an ambitious and inspirational collaboration which we are proud to be supporting. We are delighted that together we have been able to exceed our fundraising target which will leave a legacy in supporting more children with life-limiting conditions and their families across London.”

To find out more information about CHaL please visit www.chal.org.uk

For more information about the partnership please contact

Jenni Anderson

Email [email protected]

Call 020 8505 9944