Posted on 9th December 2020
by Jacqui Vear
There has undoubtedly been a shift in the nature of charity support in 2020 yet giving back to the community is an immovable foundation in our mission.
Across our 45 years in business, each team member has been invited to select a charity that is close to their heart and Systematic donate £100 to it, on their behalf. There are many poignant connections to the charities benefiting from our donations in 2020, ranging from specialist local charities such as the Nomad Trust, who provide emergency access to accommodation in Lincoln to more familiar national causes such as Prostate Cancer UK.
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance have benefited from £3,000 of donations from Systematic over the years. Corporate Partnerships Manager Tanya Taylor reflects: “No one wakes up thinking they will need the help of the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, yet our highly skilled doctors, paramedics and pilots help people involved in life-threatening incidents 365 days a year. Donations help save lives.”
“As a family business there has always been a great connection to and appreciation of the community that we work in. My Father Nick recognised this from day one and created this special tradition, which has stayed with us through many great years and a few challenging ones too! 2020 has been a year unlike no other, yet I have no doubt that our enduring values have helped us through it.” Chris, MD.
A report from The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in October noted that the generosity of the UK public increased from January to August 2020, with donations up £800 million compared to the previous year. However, this upturn in support has not generally been felt by smaller charities, who rely on the informal fundraising events that were inevitably cancelled.
Furthermore, whilst causes on the frontline of the pandemic have been at the forefront of our minds, JustGiving reporting a 46% drop in donations linked to charities that support education and disability causes. The CAF report also noted a significant decline in the level of funds donated to medical research.
Whilst giving is not just for Christmas at Systematic, December is a time when our team, like many others, reflect on the year and take time to appreciate the things that really matter. Fortunately, there are many worthy causes that continue to matter us!
