West Berkshire Mencap and Home-Start West Berkshire raise £100,000 in two weeks in Greenham Trust Escalator Challenge

West Berkshire Mencap and Home-Start West Berkshire have collectively raised more than £100,000 within a fortnight, writes Dan Dury.

Both charities participated in Greenham Trust’s Escalator and Mini-Escalator challenges.

The initiative was designed to encourage local charities to raise money progressively over five consecutive days, with matched funding increasing alongside their efforts.

Home-Start West Berkshire, aiming to fund a family coordinator to aid 60 low-income families affected by the cost-of-living crisis, kicked off the challenge with an array of activities.

The week saw a range of events from a coffee morning to a school non-uniform day, and a skydive by trustee Claire Carless, which alone raised an impressive £4,005, despite a weather-induced delay.

The charity not only reached but exceeded its £6,600 target, totalling £35,106, including donations, gift aid and matched funding.

Director of Home-Start West Berkshire Grace Green said: “It was heart-warming to see just how the Home-Start West Berkshire community came together to reach each daily target.

“The amount we raised surpassed all expectations and will help families navigating the challenging cost-of-living crisis.

“Thank you to all the staff, trustees and volunteers who made the Escalator such a resounding success.

“We are incredibly grateful to Greenham Trust for this vital funding which will make a tangible difference in the lives of those who needed it most.”

West Berkshire Mencap followed suit, raising funds for a respite hut to provide care for children with learning disabilities.

Its fundraising exploits spanned across a Hallowe’en trail, bake sale, table-top sale and a wreath-making workshop, each contributing significantly to its goal.

Notably, Gill Leech, a trustee recently honoured as Fundraiser of the Year at the Greenham Trust Charity awards 2023, alongside her husband Graeme and dog, raised more than £3,500 by trekking more than 87 miles across The Ridgeway.

The combined efforts brought the total to a remarkable £65,955, surpassing the £13,200 target, but still short of the overall goal of £94,800.

Fundraising and events manager at West Berkshire Mencap Suzie Empson shared her elation at the success of the challenge.

She said: “We were thrilled to be given the opportunity to take part in the Greenham Trust Escalator challenge.

“And were overjoyed, relieved and exhausted to have exceeded the target.

“To raise this phenomenal amount of money would normally take me a year of non-stop events so the opportunity to be able to get on with building the shepherd hut and market the service following the Escalator Challenge is amazing for the team.”

Greenham Trust head of grants Rob Daniels expressed his admiration for the innovative and impactful projects put forward by both charities.

He said: “When Greenham Trust put together the Escalator Challenge, we had a rough idea of the types of projects which would apply.

“But Mencap’s respite caravan and Home-Start’s family cost-of-living co-ordinator totally bowled us over.

“We are so proud to have helped the teams get their projects off the ground.”

He added: “We wanted the Escalator to supercharge a project, engage the community and do something amazing, and these have ticked all the boxes.

“It will make such a difference.

“Huge congratulations and very well done to all involved.”

For more information on the Greenham Trust’s grant giving and fundraising challenges, visit its website at greenhamtrust.com

Both Home-Start West Berkshire and West Berkshire Mencap continue their fundraising, inviting anyone to contribute to these projects through their respective links on The Good Exchange platform.