YFM Equity Partners donates 2020 Christmas party budget

With a traditional office Christmas party off the table this year, YFM Equity Partners has made the decision to donate the allocated budget to charity. The 12 charities were chosen by staff across the country and from all aspects of the business. Our list includes smaller local organisations as well as major national charities.

Homeless Street Angels is an award winning charity which provides support for rough sleepers in Leeds City centre. It was founded by two sisters in 2017 and works alongside the City Council to reverse the spiral of homelessness. The charity was nominated by Danielle Armitage, a Fund Management Accountant in our Leeds office. Danielle said: “Homeless Street Angels is a local charity that provide outreach to those in need, providing food, clothes, and more. They also help by re-housing people off the streets and once re-housed they provide ongoing support. I follow the charity on social media, it’s so heart-warming to see the support and care they provide, they truly are Angels. Knowing that a donation from YFM could help get someone off the streets is a wonderful thing.”

Leeds MIND promotes positive mental health and wellbeing in the city and individual support for those in need.  It was nominated by Investment Committee Member David Gee, who has volunteered there for many years. The Christie Charitable Fund raises money for projects and initiatives at The Christies NHS Foundation Trust. The Manchester hospital is a leading expert in cancer care, research and education and the charitable funds allow them to provide enhancements to NHS services. National cancer charities MacMillan and Cancer Research UK will also receive donations from YFM this year, as will Alzheimer’s Society.

Keswick Mountain Rescue is volunteer-run charity which has provided emergency assistance to walkers in the Lake District for over 50 years. Jonathan Simm, a partner on the portfolio team who nominated the charity, said: “I have been walking in the Lake District for some forty years. Thankfully I’ve never had to call on them but I am full of admiration for the volunteers who regularly put themselves at risk to assist total strangers in difficulty.”

Refugee charity Choose Love allows donors to buy specific items for refugees living in difficult conditions around the world. Crisis works to end homelessness across England, Scotland and Wales. Its annual Crisis at Christmas campaign has adapted to Covid-19 restrictions and will continue to work with those in need over the festive period. Women and children’s charity Refuge is facing similar challenges in 2020 but continues to provide a wide range of support services to victims of domestic violence across the UK.

KidsOut is a national organisation which aims to build hope and confidence to the 20,000 children fleeing domestic abuse each year. Jamie Roberts, a partner on the Investment Team, said: “There are obviously loads of great charities – many of them have had a hard time fundraising during Covid and at the same time they are needed more than ever.  I wanted to support a smaller charity and Kids Out is local to me. YFM has donated to their Toy Appeal this year which is all about making sure children who have survived domestic abuse get at least one present on Christmas day, which feels like a good thing to support to me!”

The Trussell Trust runs a nationwide network of food banks, providing emergency sustenance and support for those living in poverty. Laura Sisson, an Investment Manager in the Manchester office, nominated the charity and said “The numbers speak for themselves, with the Trussell Trust having provided a record 1.2 million emergency parcels in the six months from March, the start of the first UK lockdown. It has been heart-warming to see our communities come together with such spirit and compassion to face 2020’s challenges in so many ways, and I’m proud that YFM can contribute with this donation to the Trussell Trust, who play such a vital role at the heart of society at this time.”