Special Needs Circle
As a small self-funding charity working with limited means to support around 100 local families a year facing short and uncertain futures, we were delighted to be approached in 2021 by Callum Worker on behalf of his fundraising group ‘Miles for Smiles’ to confirm that we had been chosen as their charity to support through their huge summer challenge of walking from Edinburgh to South Derbyshire. Wow, what a challenge, and the incredible amount raised of £51,592.00 made such a difference to the amount of families we could support in arranging memory making experiences.
To be chosen for their 2022 challenge of walking 440 miles over 16 days, stopping at 33 football grounds was extremely emotional for us. No one sets out on such a challenge to support you unless they believe in what you do, and how you do it. This belief in us alone, was priceless. Our popularity grew in respect of triple the applications in one year from 100 to 300. The £62,976 raised, and especially as this came in monthly through just giving, meant that we had to turn no one down, if they fitted our criteria to support.
We can never thank the Miles for Smiles team enough not just for their fundraising support, but for their care and concern to our cause.
Maria Hanson MBE
Founder/CEO
Bank House Swadlincote (South Derbyshire Mental Health)
Miles For Smiles initially contacted Bank House after asking for suggestions on Facebook of which local charity to support. With an aim of focusing on mental health and homelessness in our community, many people suggested that Bank House should be chosen as the charity to support and raise funds for during this challenge.
After their first visit, Callum told us that this was going to be there toughest challenge to date, and were quietly confident of raising ‘a decent amount of money,’ when a figure of £10,000 was suggested, I couldn’t believe my ears! Apart from previous grant funding and NHS contracts, this had the possibility to be Bank Houses’ biggest ever amount fundraised in one event!
The team worked tirelessly during the weeks before the challenge – Gym sessions, healthy eating and drinking, visiting business sponsors, arranging travel and accommodation, making videos and promoting on social media – they did not stop.
There was a massive buzz in the area and on social media, ‘local people helping local people.’
By the end of the first day of the challenge, the £10,000 target had been reached, yet there was much more to come. By the end of the final night, and on arrival of the team back to Woodville, the Just Giving page had around £25,000, a huge, huge amount of money for a charity with very little stable income at the time.
This amount was enough to pay the rent and utilities at Bank House for an ENTIRE YEAR, or pay for 2 part time support workers for a year.
Money is obviously important but there were so many more benefits – A massive increase in people contacting Bank House to donate separately or to volunteer, some of the business sponsors continued to help Bank House after the challenge had finished, and many new people found out about the service and had confidence to get in touch.
Miles For Smiles made a massive difference to Bank House, its members staff and volunteers, and really helped to advertise and promote what we do.
We really couldn’t thank them enough. They’re dedicated, passionate and extremely brave! Love you guys #MilesForSmiles
