n 2005, Kirwans launched its Charity of the Year Scheme, whereby all staff are invited to propose a charity to support for the year. Our first Charity of the Year was Barnardo's and last year we supported Claire House Children's Hospice.

The 'Safe Place' Solution

The Safe Place Appeal is a once-of-its-kind innovative initiative being fronted by the NSPCC to help the children of Merseyside who live with the horror of abuse, be it physical, emotional, sexual or neglect. Thanks to this initiative, these children now have someone to turn to. This new flagship centre in the Great Homer Street area of Liverpool has been designed fresh out of the minds and hopes of local children. The centre will be a focal point, bringing together agencies to form ground-breaking partnerships, working with families and children with one aim - to end cruelty to children.

Under one roof, social workers will:

  • Help children, and their mothers, recover from the horrors of domestic violence.
  • Work with the Liverpool Women's Maternity Hospital operating a truly innovative service to ensure that pregnant substance abusers receive the help they need to care for their children safely; and
  • Run There4me.com - an online advice and information service for young people.

Children in Merseyside are also being offered protection by:

  • The ChildLine phone team, staffed by volunteers, helping and counselling children and young people;
  • The NSPCC's 24 hour Child Protection Helpline; and
  • An NSPCC Specialist Investigation Service focussing on stopping organised, institutionalised and professional abuse.

With the help of a generous donation from John Hargreaves, chairman of Matalan, the Safe Place Appeal was launched, however, £17 million is needed over the next 10 years to fund the centre and these vital services.

Supporting and sponsoring our chosen charity

Each year we commit to an ambitious sponsorship target to support our chosen charity. Many of our staff participate in attending or running fund raising sponsorship events to raise money for the charity. This year, we are aiming to raise £10,000 through a number of fundraising initiatives including:

Monthly dress down days and competitions

Sponsored walks and bike rides

Fundraising abseil

Quiz nights

For more information on our past events, please see our newsletters in our Press Room. So far this year we have raised well over £4,000 in support of Claire House.