Chamber President Selects the Local Charities That Will Benefit From This Year’s Doncaster Business Awards

The People Focussed Group (PFG) and the local branch of RSPCA have been identified by Doncaster Chamber’s President, Andy Morley, as worthy causes. It is an annual tradition for the current president to make this selection in advance of each Business Awards ceremony, so that a variety of different organisations can be supported over the years.

For instance, in 2021, former president Jill Wood chose three mental health and social care charities (those being Doncaster’s local branches of Mind, Age UK and Phoenix WoMen’s Aid), in recognition of the valuable work that they are still doing to help people recover from the lingering impact of COVID-19. On that particular occasion, the Business Awards managed to raise enough money for a cumulative donation of £8,535, which was then split three ways equally between the charities.

The next business awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2022. This time, attendees will be able to participate in an auction, organised by Redtooth Events, with the proceeds being pooled together for a big charitable donation.

Explaining why he chose Doncaster PFG and the local RSPCA branch as this year’s beneficiaries, Andy Morley said: “The People Focussed Group do incredibly valuable work for our community. The organisation was founded on the principle that those with lived experiences of mental health issues or learning disabilities are ideally suited to helping others with similar diagnoses.

“It’s a large network that offers peer-led crisis support, either in person, over the phone or — as a new way of keeping in touch during the pandemic —through an online platform. Many people in our area would be lost without PFG, as they provide much-needed companionship, encouragement and advice. It’s for this reason that I have named them as one of my chosen charities for the 2022 Doncaster Business Awards.

“Meanwhile, I have also selected the Doncaster, Rotherham & District branch of the RSPCA. Everyone is no-doubt familiar with the important work that this organisation does on a national scale, rehabilitating and rehoming animals across the country, but our local team is especially inspiring.

“As one of the oldest RSPCA branches in the country, they have been around since 1965 and have looked after so many animals in that time. Of course, they will always need more support so that they can carry on doing this good work and help even more. As such, I am proud to announce that the Doncaster community is rallying behind them with this year’s Business Awards.”

Speaking about the news, Glyn Butcher, Director of the People Focussed Group, said: “On behalf of PFG, I would like to thank the Chamber and Andy Morley for choosing us as one of their spotlighted charities for this year’s Doncaster Business Awards.

“Times are especially tough right now and this donation will be invaluable in helping us to meet the needs of our community. With the money, we will be in an even better decision to transform the lives of people in Doncaster and to give them hope when they are facing mental health crisis.”

Echoing these sentiments, Mary McSherry, Chief Executive of the RSPCA Doncaster, Rotherham & District said: “As a local, self-funded branch of the RSPCA, we are delighted to be named as a chosen charity for this year’s business awards. We are looking forward to the year ahead and working even closer with the Doncaster Chamber.”

The Doncaster Business Awards is an annual event arranged by the local Chamber of Commerce. This year’s ceremony will be hosted at the racecourse on Thursday, December 1. Businesses can put themselves forward in 13 different categories, including Marketing Campaign of the Year, Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility and Success Through Partnerships.

The full list, as well as instructions for entering, can be found on the Doncaster Chamber website. Nominations are open from now until midnight on July 25.