A leading independent accountancy firm spreads festive cheer to those in need after presenting a special self-curated reverse advent calendar to a local homeless charity.
Every day through December, members of the team at HB&O, which has offices in Birmingham, Coventry and Leamington, have been donating essential items to the over-sized advent calendar.
The gift was delivered just in time for Christmas to LWS Night Shelter, a charity that provides hot meals, a safe place to sleep and company for homeless and vulnerably-housed people in Leamington Spa and the wider area.
HB&O is a long-time supporter of the charity, but this is the first time the company has supported it in this way. Members from the Leamington Accounts team, Liam, James and Jess visited the charity is base to deliver the reverse advent calendar and meet the volunteers who will distribute the items to individuals accessing the service over the holiday period.
Mark Ashfield, HB&O’s Managing Director, said: “Christmas can be an especially difficult time for people without stable housing. Our team wanted to do something meaningful that offered both dignity and warmth.
“The advent calendar is a simple concept, but it reflects the generosity and empathy of our staff, who have gone above and beyond to support our community this year.
“The project is an opportunity to raise awareness of homelessness in the Midlands and to encourage other businesses to consider small but impactful ways they can contribute.”
A LWS Night Shelter spokesperson said: “We are incredibly grateful for this donation. These items will make a real difference to people facing harsh conditions at this time of year. Acts of kindness like this remind our service users that their community cares.”
HB&O’s heart-warming initiative forms part of a broader community engagement programme which includes ongoing fundraising, volunteering days and pro bono support for local charities.
The firm has held a series of fundraising activities for the local Air Ambulance Service as its designated charity of the year. This recently involved a well-supported bingo evening, featuring raffles and prizes, at Leamington Cricket Club.
The event, chaired by Tax Semi-Senior Jared Randall, raised further funds for the organisation, which provides a critical lifesaving service for people across Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland.
