Unused party budgets raise more than £1.2m for charity

An initiative started by the property industry that urges businesses to donate their unused Christmas party budgets has raised more than £1m in less than a month.

The Xmas Party Heroes initiative which was launched by investment firm the Landmark Group is hoping that this campaign will help to overcome the significant drop in charity funding due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A report by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (IoF) and Charity Finance Group (CFG) found that charities are expecting an average 24% reduction in funding this year – equating to a £12.4bn loss of income.

Most charities have seen their entire events season wiped out for 2020, with some of Britain’s largest organised fundraising events, including Cancer Research’s Race for Life and the Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk, cancelled.

Mark Hawthorn, CEO of Landmark Group, said: ‘We all know that Christmas is going to be different this year. Traditional Christmas parties simply aren’t possible due to public health restrictions, so businesses of all sizes and sectors are choosing to swap their ‘work dos’ for smaller, socially-distant, or virtual celebrations instead.

‘We also know that donations for charities have dramatically decreased due to the pandemic, with many charities unable to carry out their traditional fundraising activities and events. With Xmas Party Heroes, we wanted to raise awareness of this issue – and more importantly help to raise some much-needed funds for good causes.

‘I’m absolutely thrilled that Xmas Party Heroes has raised more than £1.2 million in such a short amount of time, and very thankful to the many businesses that have so far stepped up to donate to their chosen charities. The support we have received from business leaders and charities alike has been incredible.’

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