The ‘Summer of Love’ ran from 17 July to 1 September, with the TPS network, including TPS Centres and TPS head office, fundraising for national or local charities of their choice.
Those taking part, either solo or as a team, were encouraged to get creative as possible with their fundraising ideas. It has resulted in bake sales, dress-down Fridays, sponsored mountain climbs, walks and cycles, BBQs, raffles and a charity football match.
However, it wasn’t just about raising money, as TPS staff also donated their time through volunteering at a charity of their choice – with the equivalent of 20 days volunteering time achieved.
Catherine Baker, Head of Group Parts Operations at Volkswagen Group said: “Wow! I’ve been absolutely blown away by the activities and involvement with the Summer of Love campaign – it’s been so heart-warming to see the stories on our internal communications hub.
“Thank you to every single person who took part or supported in any way. “It’s been absolutely brilliant and has given me even more opportunities to shout about the great team we are all part of – thank you”.
The fundraising peak was achieved by TPS Birmingham’s staff team with a £5,222 donation to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, after they completed a day long climb of Mount Snowdon. The team’s efforts also earned them a further £500 from TPS as reward for achieving the biggest single fundraising donation during the ‘Summer of Love’ initiative.
Raj Momi, TPS Centre Manager at TPS Birmingham, said: “As a business, we decided to challenge ourselves and push all boundaries in climbing Snowdon on Sunday 27 August.
“The team gathered at 3.30am on Sunday and travelled to Snowdonia to start the walk at 8am. We all had difficult moments at certain stages of the climb, but nobody was left behind.
“We came together as a team and motivated and supported each other to complete the challenge. We all feel proud in what we have achieved and we’re already looking to our next challenge. Bring on Scafell Pike!”
Further notable TPS staff fundraising efforts include TPS Gloucester raising £1,611.31 in memory of their former colleague Stuart Sharpe. The four-figure donation was made to the Sue Ryder charity, which provided valuable support to Stuart’s family, with the monies raised through various events including a charity BBQ, Wear What You Like Days, free day off and hamper raffles, cake bake, and Cap in Hand donate your change initiative.
TPS Warrington raised £2,000 for the Patryk Milner Memorial Fund, a charity very close to the heart of one of the centre’s investors. The staff team hosted a charity BBQ, Wear Your Own Clothes Day and had an entry in the annual Northwhich Krazy Races, joining the dozens of weird and wonderful homemade go-karts hurtling down Castle Hill in the town.
TPS Wolverhampton generated £1560 for the BEN, automotive support charity, by climbing Mount Snowdon, while TPS Plymouth never left the office but still racked up 2466km with a static charity bike ride that raised £722 for the local St Luke’s Hospice charity.
Other volunteering highlights included the TPS Head Office team helping out at the Milton Keynes Hospital Charity, Organised by TPS Marketing Programmes Manager Laura Wolfe.
The team spent the day weeding and tidying up a garden used by patients undergoing treatment – in turn producing a green, peaceful haven for people to enjoy as an aid to their recovery.
Throughout the seven weeks of the ‘Summer of Love’ initiative, 23 teams got involved in raising money for charity or donating their time.
