Finning team surpass Christmas gift target for local charity

The team at Finning UK & Ireland’s headquarters have exceeded expectations after their goal of donating 100 presents to a local family centre was surpassed. The company accumulated over 500 gifts which were donated to children this Christmas.

Once the charity appeal was brought to the attention of the team at Finning it didn’t take long for the entire office to get involved by donating a vast array of gifts, and almost matching the number of employees to gifts like-for-like.

The recipient of the generous donation is West Chadsmoor Family Centre based in Cannock – the town also being home to the Finning UK & Ireland headquarters. The centre was set up as a community group in 1996 and became a registered charity in 2005 with the goal of supporting, nurturing and providing life opportunities to vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their families across the local area. 

The centre relies on limited funding, grant funding and donations to survive, and in a challenging economic climate they increasingly rely on the generosity of the community to continue to support children and families in need of support. 

As a visible part of Cannock’s landscape – and major local employer, Finning is not only a presence in the local community, but an advocate for making a positive impact on both employee and community lives.  

The charity drive started with a social media post asking for donations, but it was Lesley Hollins, Retail Parts Professional at Finning UK & Ireland who knew – with the generosity of the team around her – that the company could achieve more than their 100-gift goal. 

She said: “I knew we could do more but I was overwhelmed by the support for this appeal. The entire team at Finning headquarters really got behind it and our reception was full to the brim with gifts. West Chadsmoor is a beloved institution in our community and it’s great to see everyone at Finning give back to an essential service, especially at this time of year.”

The level of support from Finning has also garnered the attention of local councillors, with the Chairman of Cannock Chase Council, Steve Thornley, making a visit to the company’s headquarters to personally thank the staff for their incredible generosity, as well as find out more about the positive impact the Finning team makes on the community as a whole.

He said: “The West Chadsmoor Family Centre survives on grant funding, and it serves everyone in the community on these limited means. This incredible donation has really been the icing on the cake for the families, meaning all children who come through their doors will have a gift to open at Christmas – something we all take for granted.

“It is clear that Finning is a company based on family values, with multiple generations of the same family working for the them and it is wonderful to see those values and support extend to those around them.”

As a company Finning is no stranger to serving the community, with a vast network of field service engineers whose daily works sees them supporting customers across the country. Making a positive impact is part of the company ethos, and in the DNA of the people it employs. As a beneficiary of this generosity, Heather Preece, Centre manager at West Chadsmoor Family Centre was touched by the level of support from the company.

She said: “Any donation to the centre is gratefully received, but to see the extent of what Finning has come together to achieve for those within their community is overwhelming. I was grateful for the opportunity to visit the team at Finning on behalf of those that the charity serves, and convey our sincere thanks for giving our families a little extra magic this Christmas.”