And our Charity of the Year is....

LEICESTER-BASED SHAW TRUST NAMED AS HIGHCROSS’ NEW CHARITY OF THE YEAR

Staff at Shaw Trust have expressed excitement at being chosen as Highcross shopping centre’s charity of the year for 2024.

The charity, which supports disadvantaged service users, including people with health conditions or a disability by helping to source training, employment or education opportunities, will receive all funds raised throughout the year. This will include the opportunity to host fundraising pop-up events in the shopping centre, staff fundraising, volunteer work and sponsorship events, as well as donations from generous customers.

Commenting on the new partnership, Jo Tallack, Senior General Manager at Highcross, said:

“As we kick-start another year, I’m pleased to welcome Shaw Trust as our new chosen charity for 2024. All of our centre workforce, from our management and tech teams, right through to those working hard to keep our centre safe and clean, were given a vote and played a role in reviewing and choosing this year’s charity.

“Supporting local organisations is very much at the heart of what we do here at Highcross, and many of the decisions we make are centered around how the community, and the people within it, will be impacted. Shaw Trust does a fantastic job in supporting those in need in Leicestershire and beyond, helping them to get back on their feet and develop personally and professionally.

“This network that we’re lucky to have on our doorstep, made up of generous local residents and charitable organisations, is one that we’re humbled to be a part of. Our teams are excited to lend our support to this very worthwhile cause, in the hopes of raising some vital funds for Shaw Trust.”

Olivia Pitt, Employer Engagement Specialist, from Shaw Trust Leicester, added:

“We’re so thrilled to be working with Highcross as its chosen charity partner this year. Across the region, we’ve seen the impact the centre has had on a number of charitable organisations, helping them to raise brand awareness of the important services on offer around Leicestershire, while also opening up opportunities for support and development in a welcoming space.

“At Shaw Trust, our mission is to support those in need in and around Leicestershire, helping disabled and disadvantaged people rebuild their lives through educational and career-related support. In order for us to continue that all-important work though, like others, we rely heavily on external support. That’s why we’re so grateful to the entire Highcross team who chose us as their charity of the year, and we look forward to working closely over the coming months.”

As well as having a chosen charity, Highcross has been known to lend its support to various local causes over the years, in particular through its pop-up shop facility. This enables independent businesses in the wider community, including charities, to benefit from a temporary unit on the mall, free of charge, while showcasing their offering in a bustling space.

Various organisations, including Leicester Hospitals Charity and Living Without Abuse, have used Highcross’ pop-up shop to promote and raise awareness of a number of different initiatives.

For more information on Shaw Trust, visit https://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/ and to donate online, click here.