Matalan Rochdale helps smash fundraising target for the NSPCC

Matalan Retail Director Mike Jeans, NSPCC’s Alex Hanson, Matalan CEO Darren Blackhurst and Matalan Marketing Director Lee Pinnington.

Matalan is celebrating raising almost £700,000 for the NSPCC in less than a year, thanks to the fundraising efforts of their staff and customers across the UK.

The retailer has raised an impressive £695,544.71 since March 2011. Stores in the North West have raised a combined total of over £82,000 towards the total with the store in Rochdale raising £ 1,400 towards the total.

Last year (10/11) Matalan raised more than £300,000 for the children’s charity and subsequently set themselves an even bigger challenge to smash the half million mark by March 2012, which they’ve exceeded by £200,000. Their teams across the UK took up the challenge and hit the massive milestone with time to spare.

Staff fundraising has contributed significantly to this achievement with employee activities ranging from in-store collections to more challenging events including marathon running and skydiving. Some of the more quirky fundraising antics included baked bean baths, space hopper racing, Royal Weddings, Halloween fancy dress, ‘cycle to Lapland’ and much, much more.

Since 2008 Matalan has raised in excess of £1million for the NSPCC and have committed to continue to raise money and make a difference through 2012/2013.

Alex Hanson, Corporate Fundraising Manager at the NSPCC, said: “This is the biggest amount Matalan has raised for us in less than a year and their contribution to the NSPCC is phenomenal. Despite the difficult economic climate their staff and customers have continued to give what they can to ensure the most vulnerable children in communities across the country can access help from the NSPCC, including through our ChildLine service.

“It will make a massive difference to the lives of children in Rochdale and across the UK. On behalf of all the children these funds will help, I would like to say thank you to Matalan staff and customers.”

In recognition of Matalan’s fundraising the NSPCC’s Alex Hanson presented Matalan CEO, Darren Blackhurst, with an award at the retailer’s head office.

The money raised will fund the NSPCC’s work to end cruelty children. It could pay for more ChildLine counsellors to answer contacts from children by phone and online; help the NSPCC Helpline answer more calls from adults with concerns about a child; and enable the charity to develop innovative and pioneering services for children who have suffered abuse and harm.