Make it your business: working with your local children's charity

March 2010

Rockinghorse has launched an innovative corporate scheme to encourage local companies to select the cause as their chosen charity.

MRL Group, an international specialist recruitment company, is the first to commit to becoming a ‘Rockinghorse Corporate Champion’ and has pledged to raise a staggering £6,500 over the course of the financial year.

Staff members will work together to reach the target. This will involve the team taking part in sponsored challenge events, with employees already signed up to run the Paris and Brighton Marathons in April and to cycle the London to Paris bike ride in June. 

MRL will raise £5,000 for a specialised incubator for the Trevor Mann Baby Unit, one of Rockinghorse’s many projects. The remaining £1,500 will be distributed accordingly among the other centres that the charity supports, which include The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, Seaside View Child Development Centre, Chalkhill Hospital in Haywards Heath and respite care centres throughout the county.

David Stone, Chief Executive of MRL Group, said: “One of the reasons we have chosen to support Rockinghorse is because, over the past few years, four of our current Hove-based staff have had children who have benefited from specialist attention in the Trevor Mann Baby Unit.

“The charity does a tremendous job for local children and I am delighted that our employees in the UK as well as our German, French and Dubai offices are getting behind such a worthwhile cause. JB Noree from our French office will be running the Paris Marathon in April, Emma Wilson and Leigh-Ann Morrell are training for the Brighton Marathon and Ryan Cool will be undertaking the London to Paris sponsored bike ride later this year.” 

MRL will be supporting its employees by sponsoring any staff member that takes part in a fundraising event on behalf of Rockinghorse and will also grant the individual two days additional holiday per year to either train, undertake, or recover from the event in which they partake. In the coming months, staff will be signing up for some of Rockinghorse’s many events, including a skydive, bungee jump and dragon boat race.

Gavin Fisher, Rockinghorse Chief Executive, said: “More companies are becoming aware of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and are building it into the ethos of the organisation, seeing it as an opportunity to give something back to the community. 

“We are extremely grateful to MRL for stepping up as our first Rockinghorse Corporate Champion and it’s really great to see so many staff members are already getting involved.”

To find out more about how your business can become a Rockinghorse Corporate Champion, please contact Emily Hahn at Rockinghorse on 01273 730286.