The Lisieux Trust has expressed immense gratitude to the staff of a kind-hearted Sutton Coldfield firm who raised over £3,500 for us through a series of events.

Employees from Cembre Ltd, a Curdworth-based European manufacturer of electrical compression connectors and related installation tooling, visited the Lisieux Trust Offices this week to present the cheque. They also had the opportunity to meet with some of the charity’s residents and personnel, following their company-wide fundraising efforts.

Three of their staff members, Financial Controller UK and ROI James Griffiths, Charlotte Ashford, PA to the Managing Director of Cembre Ltd and CNC Setter Operator Joseph Aherne, took on the challenging Three Peaks Challenge. Additionally, they helped organise their inaugural Company Fun Day last month, also in support of the charity.

The result was an astonishing £3,616.45 raised to support the Trust, which, according to Dawn Baglin, Cembre’s Accounts Assistant, was precisely the initial goal of the project.

Cembre, with offices in multiple countries, chose to focus its efforts on smaller charities. Dawn explained, “We held an employee forum and aimed to collaborate with a local charity and we were really struck by the work the Trust does. We are thrilled with the amount we have raised.”

Undoubtedly, the most attention-grabbing feat was the Three Peaks Challenge, involving 19 competitors attempting to climb the highest peaks of Scotland, England, and Wales, within a 24-hour window. The trio who completed it had differing opinions about a potential return. James, with a smile, stated, “It was brilliant to do, but never again!” In contrast, Joseph was enthusiastic, saying, “Definitely. I loved it, and I’ll probably do it a couple more times!” Charlotte though was undecided, commenting: “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done physically. Fantastic to have achieved it, more importantly for such a great cause but not something I’m in a hurry to do again!”

The Fun Day attracted over 200 attendees, including friends, family, Trust residents, and staff. The event featured a range of activities, from a Bucking Bronco machine to giant football and live music. One resident, Mark, shared, “I loved the bull; it was tough but fun!” John enjoyed the band and the DJ, while Maura summed up the experience, confirming, “It was a good day. I had a great time.”

Trust Office Manager Denise Johnson, who was present, noted that even the damp weather couldn’t dampen spirits. “It was fantastic,” she said. “The band stole the show, and all of our guys were up and dancing until it was time to go home; they truly enjoyed themselves. The atmosphere was so positive, we are immensely grateful.”

The Trust now intends to utilise the funds to help Residents in the community, as Head of Finance Carole Aston explained: “We are extremely grateful that Cembre chose to support Lisieux Trust during their fundraising activities, the funds raised will enhance the lives of all the tenants and residents of Lisieux Trust, a massive thank you to everyone involved.”

It is hoped that these events could mark the beginning of a lasting partnership between the two organisations, with Charlotte suggesting. “The collaboration has been highly successful, and we’d love to work with the Trust again in the future.”

While our residents and staff eagerly anticipate upcoming events, it’s quite possible that Cembre’s staff might be hoping for something a bit less demanding next time…