Blenheim staff hand over giant cheque to loneliness charity

Staff at Blenheim Palace handed over a giant cheque for £15,885 to The Archway Foundation, an Oxfordshire loneliness charity, after a year-long fundraising initiative.

Each year the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site adopts a charity as part of its commitment to support the community, increase employee engagement and benefit organisations that provide vital assistance to local people.

The Archway Foundation was established in 1982 to help relieve some of the distress caused by loneliness; offering support, friendship and a listening ear.

The charity is in touch with around 300 people in Oxford and Abingdon at any one time and has a team of 130 volunteers who help with a range of activities including home visits, driving people, hosting meetings and groups and running a call-in café.

To help raise money for The Archway Foundation, staff undertook an incredible 24hr cycling challenge, held social committee events, used collection tins and hosted a Blenheim Loneliness Walk.

They also held two events at the Palace prompting donations and raising awareness of the charity and its cause.

“I am very proud of the effort and commitment of our staff to support such a worthwhile, effective and important local charity”, said Megan Carter, Head of HR at Blenheim Palace.

“Loneliness is something that we can all experience. In addition to raising money for the charity, it has offered us the opportunity to learn more about the causes and effects of loneliness, and how we can do our bit to recognise warning signs both in the workplace and in the wider community,” she added.

The cheque was handed over to Archway’s Chairman Chris Taft.

“The money Blenheim has raised is astounding, contributing significantly to keeping services running which are essential to so many going through periods of loneliness throughout Oxfordshire and surrounding areas,” said Chris.

“We are very grateful to every member of the Blenheim team who contributed to this. They should feel immensely proud of their achievements,” he added.

For more information on the Archway Foundation go to www.archwayfoundation.org.uk