Date: 1 July 2011
Author: Alan Brown

Ashton KCJ has announced its support for two new charities. Every year, staff at the firm nominate two charities they wish to support. This year they will be supporting the Iceni Project and the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

The firm aims to raise at least £10,000 over the year for the two charities, through a range of activities. In 2010 - 11, over £10,300 was raised for the Alzheimer’s Society and East Anglian Children’s Hospices (EACH), through a Wills week, Santa run, a charity bowling event and dress down days.

Alison Budge, Partner and Head of the firm’s CSR committee said:
"As part of our commitment to local projects, we are delighted to be supporting these two charities, both of which are highly regarded in the local community and across the region.”
 
Iceni

Since it was established in 1999, Iceni has played a major role in tackling drug and alcohol misuse across Suffolk. The charity has recently launched its ‘Under one roof’ campaign - a pioneering new service which supports families through a loved one’s addiction. A new state-of-the-art centre is also helping families to access a range of services all under one roof.

Brian Tobin, Director of Iceni said:
"Because of the nature and multitude of the problems families face, we would have to send people all over Ipswich and Suffolk to get different support. Now everything is together under one roof, a client can be seeing a debt advice counsellor one minute and dealing with anger or addiction problems the next."

The East Anglian Air Ambulance

The East Anglian Air Ambulance is well known across the region. Providing life-saving services, it operates 365 days a year and is entirely dependent on fundraising and contributions from the public in order to run its two helicopters.

Nichola Whymark, EAAA’s Suffolk Area Fundraising Manager commented:
"We would like to thank Ashton KCJ for choosing to support our charity. It really does mean so much that you want to raise vital funds for our life-saving service."

Ashton KCJ has also signed up to Green Call - an environmentally friendly conference-calling facility which records the amount of CO2 saved by using the service instead of travelling to meetings. As part of the firm’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, staff are being encouraged to use the facility whenever they can instead of travelling to meetings.