200 years celebrations - December

We are continuing our 200-year anniversary celebrations with random acts of kindness in the local community and a look back at our history.

Random acts of kindness

Tim Field in our Commercial and Corporate Finance Team sent brownies from local supplier Essex Bakery to his client and our Charity of the year Essex Community Foundation. Essex Community Foundation said: “Thank you! A lovely surprise and fuel for the busy team.”

Rhyanne Sefton from our team of Independent Financial Advisers sent a coffee gift card to Julia Brooks from Scottish Widows, with whom the IFA team regularly works.

Julia said: “Well that was a fabulous surprise! Happy 200 years!! Amazing!”

“Wow, thanks so much! Salted caramel hot chocolate here I come. Made my day. Thanks”

There was a collection across the firm’s offices in Colchester, Chelmsford and Basildon for each of their local food banks. With 1 in 5 of the UK population living below the poverty line, the three Foodbanks help local people in crisis and are a part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

We delivered:

18 cartons of long life milk
460 tea bags
25 bags of rice
8 jars of coffee
6 bottles of juice
8 cartons of long life fruit juice
25 tins of potatoes
25 tins/packets of custard
27 jars of jam
4 jars of honey
11 jars of peanut butter
34 tins of fruit
5 tins of sweetcorn
15 tins of tomatoes
19 bottles of fairy liquid
2 boxes of washing powder capsules
12 tins of beans and peas
6 tins of rice pudding
52 packets of biscuits
12 Christmas chocolate selection packs
9 sweet selection packs
4 packs of jelly
6 tin meals
7 tins of soup
11 packet meals and mash
1 bag of pasta
8 tubs of Christmas chocolates
10 bottles of deodorant
10 bottles of shampoo and conditioner
25 bottles of body wash and 44 nappies

Our Marketing team donated towards the cost of Christmas lunches for the Day Centre at Crossroads in Braintree and Chelmsford. Crossroads is a local charity whose purpose is to provide respite care within our community to the growing number of adults who provide unpaid care to a relative or friend affected by disability, age, illness or mental ill health, who otherwise would not be able to manage without their support.  

Danni Perry, Finance and Business Development Manager at Crossroads said: “Thanks again for your support, some of the beneficiaries only had that one meal for Christmas as they didn't go and see family and find it difficult to cook.” 

From our history

Did you know that in 2010 Philip George stepped down as Managing Partner and retired from the Partnership but remained with the firm on a consultancy basis?

Birkett Long remains close to Philip via our work supporting The Rob George Foundation. In December we sponsored the Colchester Roundtable Santa’s Sleigh Christmas collection on Colchester’s St.Michael’s Estate in aid of the foundation. The charity was founded in loving memory of Philip’s son Rob George, who died aged 21 on 9th December 2013 following a long battle with leukaemia. The Rob George Foundation’s objectives are to:

1. provide practical and/or financial support to young people with life threatening or terminal illnesses.
2. provide financial support to young people who demonstrate exceptional commitment and/or ability in the worlds of sport or the performing arts but may be held back by their financial situation from pursuing their goals.

Kind messages of congratulations

We have had many kind messages of congratulations but this month we would like to share this one from a representative of Chelmsford food bank.

“Congratulations on your 200th anniversary and what a lovely idea to do random acts of kindness. Thank you so much for approaching us, we would love to accept donations of general store cupboard items with some Christmassy treats. We really appreciate your support, thank you.”

For more information on our 200 years celebrations contact Jennie Skingsley on 01206 217605 or email: jennie.skingsley@birkettlong.co.uk