Media Release: Dorset Businesses Invited To Join Julia’s House Corporate Friends Fun Day

Thursday 18 June, 2009; Companies from across Dorset are joining forces for the Julia’s House Beach Fun Day 2009 which promises to raise thousands of pounds for Dorset’s only children’s hospice on Friday 3 July. Led by Nationwide and Julia’s House Corporate Friends, a fantastic array of action-packed tournaments and activities will take place on the beach and around Bournemouth.

Nationwide set the standard at the very first Julia’s House Fun Day last year, raising an impressive £4,000. The company’s dedication and enthusiasm has been infectious, paving the way for an even bigger and better event this year with the backing of numerous local businesses. The event has fast become what is believed to be the only Fun Day of its kind where local corporates unite in team building activities while raising money for charity. Joining Nationwide in support of the 2009 event are fellow Julia’s House Corporate Friends Poole Audi, Qualcomm, Apple Conservatories, Randstad, RBS and Marriott Hotels, who have each organised one of the Fun Day activities. Tracey Holt, Head of Direct Sales at Nationwide, comments: “Building on the success of Nationwide's impromptu Beach Day last summer to help raise funds for Julia’s House, we are teaming up with other Corporate Friends and local companies to run a similar event on a much larger scale. “In the run up to Friday 3 July, members of the public will be able to take part in a photo Treasure Hunt by visiting some of Bournemouth’s most popular ‘drinking holes’ and texting their competition answers to one of the Julia’s House dedicated text numbers. The Beach Fun Day itself will offer something for everyone and I’m sure all of the participating companies will enjoy getting together to celebrate the success of the event in the evening at Coyote Ugly.” Whether you are an individual member of staff or a major corporate, any Dorset company is welcome to join in the activities for a small entry free. The fun starts with a Rounders Tournament in Meyrick Park on Tuesday 30 June from 5pm where teams of nine can enter for just £20. The Beach Fun Day kicks off at 12pm to the east of Bournemouth Pier on Friday 3 July with Beach Volleyball, sandcastle competitions and Holy Water – the ultimate challenge event where ‘It’s a Knockout’ meets ‘Scrapheap Challenge’. Jane Errington, Julia’s House Corporate Fundraiser, commented: “We are thrilled that so many companies are coming together to raise vital funds for Julia’s House. We are looking forward to a fun filled day involving companies from all sectors, and raising a lot of money for life-limited and life-threatened Dorset children. We would like to thank Nationwide for its continued support of Julia’s House and urge companies to come and participate in some brilliant team building activities whilst raising money for Julia’s House.” The fun will continue into the evening on Friday 3 July at the brand new Coyote Ugly bar in the IMAX Centre. The bar is showing its support for Julia’s House by offering a number of drinks at low prices and by donating a percentage of sales on the day to the charity. To enter or find out more about any of the activities on offer, call 01202 607400. -Ends- Notes to Editors Julia’s House is Dorset’s hospice dedicated to children with life-limiting conditions. The majority of the children that it cares for are unlikely to live into adulthood (defined as beyond the age of 18). The children’s hospice complements the work of the Julia’s House Community Team, which consists of 65 nurses and carers who travel the county, providing life-changing support for families in their own homes. In 2008 the charity provided 7,318 hours of care in the community and 5,170 hours of care at the hospice in Corfe Mullen, equating to an overall 65% increase in the care hours compared with the previous year. It costs around £2.4m to run Julia’s House, yet the charity receives just three per cent of its total annual funding from the government. The rest of the charity’s essential income is raised through the generosity of the Dorset community, corporate partners and charitable foundations. For more information about Julia’s House, please contact 01202 607 400 or visit www.julias-house.org Julia’s House achieved an outstanding ranking of 14th overall in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work For 2009 and was also awarded the maximum Three Star rating by Best Companies in 2009. This elite ‘Michelin-style’ star accreditation recognised the excellent workforce engagement and management as ‘Extraordinary’. This rating placed Julia’s House as the highest ranked organisation in Dorset and the top children’s charity in the UK. Julia’s House Media Contact: Emma Spearing, Hazel PR Tel: 01202 862410 Fax: 01202 862301 Mobile: 07736 341828

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