Colchester Business Lunch Club Donates £500 to N.E.S.T Charity to Support Local Families
Pictured above are Director and Head of TSP's Wills & Estates Team, Robert Ashworth presenting the cheque to N.E.S.T with help from CBLC committee member Johanna Little (Handelsbanken). Left to right are Johanna, Robert and Les Nicoll (Chairman).
The Colchester Business Lunch Club (CBLC), chaired by Thompson Smith and Puxon Director Robert Ashworth and supported by Committee Members Simon Pinion (Scrutton Bland) and Johanna Little (Handelsbanken), continues to bring the local business community together across Colchester.
The CBLC is an informal networking group that brings together professionals from across the city for regular lunches throughout the year. Each event attracts Colchester’s brilliant businesses, alongside regular attendance from colleagues at Thompson Smith and Puxon.
In addition to promoting strong business relationships, the CBLC is committed to supporting the local community. A percentage of every lunch ticket is allocated to charitable giving, enabling the committee to make contributions to local charities each year (read more about their previous donations here).
This year, the CBLC is making the charitable donation of £500 to N.E.S.T (North Essex Support Team). N.E.S.T is a registered charity which strives to offer vital support to struggling families and individuals in our local community. Everything they offer, from household items to food and clothing, is free of charge for vulnerable members of our community.
This January, N.E.S.T ran a ‘Winter Warmer 26’ initiative where they have collected pre-loved coats, jumpers, trousers, hats, gloves, scarves, pyjamas, dressing gowns and clean bedding.
N.E.S.T have identified that families living in poverty cannot afford winter clothing or warm bedding. As part of their ‘Winter Warmer 26’ initiative, N.E.S.T set up two pop up shops, in Colchester and Harwich, offering the items donated completely free of charge to those who need them most in the local community.
Les Nicoll, Chairman at N.E.S.T commented "The donation will contribute toward the charity continuing to be able to offer their services and initiatives for free. Examples include hosting a prom dress shop for teens in Harwich, Clacton, Colchester and Mersea, purchasing beds and bedding for children who need them, covering the cost of heating a home over Christmas and providing free slow cookers combined with low-cost recipes and ingredients.”
Robert Ashworth, President of the CBLC said: “Helping our community is at the heart of the CBLC, and N.E.S.T’s work genuinely changes lives. We’re delighted to support their incredible efforts, especially during the winter months when so many families are struggling. Their kindness, compassion and practical help make a real difference, and we’re proud to play a small part in that.”