Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, is sponsoring the services of leading children’s charity ChildLine for one day – for the fifth time.
The company is funding the charity’s ‘One Unforgettable Day’ programme on Friday December 3, 2021, meeting the £30,000 cost which ChildLine needs each day to operate its vital counselling services.
Companies sponsoring the service can do so on a memorable day of their choice – December 3 marks the formation of Designer Contracts 17 years ago. It is the fourth time the company has sponsored this particular date. Last year it also stepped in to fund a further day in April to help the charity with a much-needed cash injection during the pandemic.
Said Peter Kelsey, md at Designer Contracts: “The past 20 months have been particularly challenging for many charities but despite the number of Childline volunteers halving at the beginning of the pandemic, and only recently returning to pre-pandemic levels, the charity still managed to deliver more than 200,000 counselling sessions – just 14% down on the previous year.
“Some 800 young people call in to the charity in any one day, seeking advice and assistance, so funding is desperately needed to continue helping them at what is often a time of real personal crisis in their lives.”
Peter Kelsey, who founded and led Designer Contracts to become the UK’s largest flooring contractor, was this year honoured with an Outstanding Achievement in the Flooring Industry award (announced at the Contract Flooring Journal’s 2021 awards ceremony in September). His many charitable contributions –including to ChildLine – have cemented his reputation as a philanthropic entrepreneur. Earlier this month (November), the company also won the Partners in Sustainability category title in the PFM Partnership Awards 2021.
Designer Contracts operates across 15 UK regional facilities. Its national distribution centre at Kettering now holds a massive £3.4 million worth of stock to ensure customers can rely on order fulfilment.