"With our firms and partners having been so generous in previous years, we know they’ll be just as supportive in 2024."
- Riona Mulherin, director of marketing and operations at Paradigm
Paradigm has launched its seventh annual ‘Reverse Advent’ charity drive running throughout November and December, in aid of Trussell.
Trussell is a nationwide network of food banks providing emergency food and support to people in crisis across the UK.
Between the 1st April 2023 and the 31st March 2024, Trussell food banks distributed over 3.1 million emergency food parcels, a 94% increase over the past five years. 1.1 million of these parcels went to children.
Paradigm is once again encouraging its membership of over 1,900 firms, strategic partners, and the wider financial services industry, to take part in the following ways:
1. By collecting non-perishable food items and toiletries in offices, which can be taken to a local food bank to support those in need. Paradigm are happy to accept donations to their offices, which they will take to their local distribution centre.
2. By considering making a financial donation. Paradigm has once again set up a Just Giving page where financial donations can be made and Gift Aid added where appropriate. The Just Giving page can be accessed here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/paradigm-reverse-advent-2024.
Last year Paradigm raised over £1,400 in addition to physical donations, and would like to beat this amount in 2024.
Over the last three years, members of the Paradigm team have also completed over 25 days volunteering at its local Trussell food bank distribution centre in Sparkhill, Birmingham.
Riona Mulherin, director of marketing and operations at Paradigm, commented: “Each year it would be nice to think that the need for our charity drive lessens, but unfortunately that’s not the case, and in fact the numbers of food parcels distributed has grown every single year since we started this initiative. Indeed, the sheer number of food parcels delivered by Trussell shows just how important this organisation is and the difference it makes to thousands upon thousands of people.
“We are very proud to now be in the seventh year of this campaign, and with our firms and partners having been so generous in previous years, we know they’ll be just as supportive in 2024.
“There are a number of ways to support us, in terms of collecting items for your local centres, sending them to Paradigm, and of course we can take financial donations that will all go to supporting the wonderful work of Trussell.
“We’ve been delighted to have already received physical food donations from two of our lender partners, The Mortgage Lender and Newcastle Building Society, and would like to encourage all other stakeholders to take part in this year’s drive in whatever way they can.
“Everyone at Paradigm has seen first hand what a difference Trussell has made to the lives of so many people, and we’d like to ensure this work continues and that everyone has what they need at what can be a very difficult time for so many people.”
