Date published: 20 October 2021 by Amber Hemming
Leading London law firm, Macfarlanes, has announced Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity as it’s 2021/22 Charity of the Year. The 12-month partnership aims to raise much needed funds for families with a life-threatened or terminally ill child.
The company has committed all its annual fundraising efforts to support the charity from October 2021 to the end of September 2022. The partnership, which officially launched on Monday 1 October 2021, will support Rainbow Trust in a range of different ways including: raising money through fundraising activities, raising awareness of the charity amongst its staff and clients, pro bono legal support, donations from its in-house coffee bar, and the free use of office space for the charity.
To kick-start fundraising, one energetic group of Macfarlanes staff have already put their best foot forward by running the Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 10 October, cheered on by members of Rainbow Trust’s London and South East Care Team.
The charity was nominated by Macfarlanes Partner, Jennifer Smithson, who is a Trustee of the charity. Jennifer said:
“Since becoming a Trustee of Rainbow Trust in October 2019, it is clear to me that the charity fills a significant gap in children’s social care, offering a much-needed service that no other organisation provides; specifically practical and emotional support to terminally ill children and their families.
“COVID-19 has really brought home to me the critical role Rainbow Trust Family Support Workers play in supporting families through times which no family would ever want to have to experience – pandemic or no pandemic. Rainbow Trust Family Support Workers are sometimes the only trusted constant in these families’ lives, staying in regular contact with worried parents to give vital emotional support and advice, providing a lifeline for those who felt isolated and unable to cope.”
Oonagh Goodman, Rainbow Trust Director of Fundraising and Marketing said:
“We are incredibly grateful and completely delighted that Macfarlanes has selected Rainbow Trust as its Charity of the Year. Corporate supporters are vital in helping us fund our expert Family Support Workers particularly after an immensely challenging time due to the pandemic which has placed unimaginable pressure on the families we support. We are very excited about the year ahead - it’s going to be a great partnership!”
The money raised from the Macfarlanes partnership will support seriously ill children, healthy siblings and parents and carers through trained Family Support Workers from Rainbow Trust’s London and South East Care Team.