TPS teams turn charity champions in ‘Summer of Love’

This year’s TPS ‘Summer of Love’ charity initiative has raised a total of £10,701.56 for national and local charitable organisations.

Following the success of last year’s first Summer of Love, the campaign returned during July and August, with the opportunity for TPS’s network of 83 centres and its wider team to host one or more fundraising events.

Those taking part, either solo or as a team, were encouraged to get as creative as possible with their fundraising ideas. That led to bake sales, dress-down Friday events, fancy dress days, walks and cycling, BBQs, raffles — and one team completing the ‘Three Peaks Challenge’ within the required 24 hours.

However, it wasn’t just about raising money, as TPS teams also donated their time through volunteering at a charity of their choice — with the equivalent of 14 days’ volunteering time achieved.

‘Positive impact’

Kayleigh Clare, events and communications manager, said: “The TPS team have again embraced the Summer of Love campaign in the most amazing way possible.  

“The campaign is very special to me for so many reasons. Bringing people together to do something good for those in need is priceless.

“And although it’s so wonderful to see how much time and money has been raised, you simply can’t measure the true scale of the positive impact this type of activity creates.

“Every single contribution is worth something to someone and it’s something to be incredibly proud of. A huge thank you to everyone who got involved.”

TPS Bolton hit the fundraising heights with team members Phil, Shaun and Mik generating £3,509 (and counting) for the MIND charity after they completed the Three Peaks Challenge.

Help for Heroes

The intrepid trio’s efforts also earned them a further £500 from TPS as reward for achieving the biggest single fundraising donation during the Summer of Love initiative.

Further notable TPS fundraising efforts include TPS Nottingham raising £1,387 for the Help for Heroes and Lincoln and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance charities by taking part in two days of fancy dress and hosting a charity buffet for staff and AA patrols.

TPS Swansea generated £591 for the local Forget Me Knot charity after mapping out the full 573km of their delivery territory and then cycling the entire length of it.

TPS Birmingham took a slightly different fundraising route by choosing to donate £480 of specifically requested toys to Birmingham Children’s Hospital — a cause close to the hearts of the staff team after raising significant funds last year towards the hospital’s MRI machine appeal.

Care home

The volunteering highlights for the 2024 campaign included nine members of the TPS head office team helping Age UK Milton Keynes dismantle their old storage and donation unit ahead of the charity moving to a new site.

At TPS Edinburgh, the team supported a local care home by helping set up a BBQ and planning for a residents’ day trip.

Throughout the Summer of Love, 19 teams got involved in raising money for charity or donating their time during the initiative.

Pictured: TPS Bolton’s Phil Gregory and two friends who raised the biggest single donation of £3,509 (and counting) for the MIND charity after they completed the Three Peaks Challenge