Good afternoon all - I hope you’re having a good week.

As you’ll know, Fortus have always been a people centric business and one focused on our teams’ wellbeing across the business. We’ve also been active in supporting others less fortunate than ourselves outside the business through charitable activity organised either by third parties or our own people, across both national initiatives and regional activity.

I’m sure like many of us, you’ll have been horrified and saddened by the images of the continuing conflict in eastern Europe and it’s clear things aren’t getting any better.

The footage of the incredible courage, shown by both Ukrainian people and those in Russia who are actively coming out onto the streets to show the conflict’s not in their name, has been powerful and incredibly moving. Added to this has been the heartfelt humanitarianism and warmth shown by neighbouring European countries towards those fleeing from their homes and now crossing the borders in their hundreds of thousands. Indeed, it’s expected that that this will soon reach 2 million over the next few days.

As a business, how can we help?

Collectively, we can make a difference!

We can fundraise – and we’d love to see fundraising initiatives springing up across our 12 offices, driven and supported by YOU, in order that we can make a meaningful donation to key charities who are working tirelessly to support the millions of innocent victims of this conflict.

Our values of DISTINCTIVE, INCLUSIVE, VALUABLE and COURAGEOUS really come into their own at this greatest time of need for so many.

So, what can you do?

Well, in short, get creative in any way, to raise much-needed donations for this huge humanitarian effort.

What could £5k buy for those in need?

• Over 500 packs of 80 nappies or…

• Over 10,000 packs of Ibuprofen or…

• 1,000 packs of 24 sanitary towels or…

• 1,250 woollen blankets or…

• 1,250 emergency shelters or…

• 71 food & hygiene packs for a family of 4 for a month or…

• 3 emergency medicine packs for 1,000 people for 3 months.

Here are a few ideas to kick things off…

• Baking a cake and bringing it into the office – 10 slices at £2 each (your £20 contribution).

• Team breakfast – breakfast rolls at £3.50 each – YUM!

• Washing cars at home or in the office car park at £10-£15 per car, depending on size – I’ll be out there this coming Friday lunchtime for those in Northampton wanting a clean car for the weekend!

• Selling unwanted items on eBay or Facebook Marketplace (we’re also considering setting up a Teams chat for an online ‘car boot’ (but not car boot – sale), where you can put up things you no longer want or need for sale, or auction).

• Donating money you’d usually spend on your Starbucks or Costa each week for a month.

• Making your lunch at home rather than buying it from the vans that visit some of our office offices for a week.

• Donate the cost of the meal out you choose not to have, or the item of clothing you were going to buy, but don’t REALLY need. Remember Dilly’s decluttering tips?!

The point is, we don’t want to tie your ideas of fundraising down, to limiting activity by individual or office.

At a time of unprecedented crisis, we can all make a difference – so thanks for taking the time to read this far, and thank you in advance for any participation over the coming weeks!