Coventry and Warwickshire charity that helps to rebuild lives of abused children relaunches

A Coventry and Warwickshire charity that has raised millions to rebuild the lives of abused children is relaunching after three decades of fundraising.

Coventry and Warwickshire Children’s Charity (CWCC) has raised more than £3.1 million since it formed in 1995 and provides vital funding to support work with vulnerable children across the region.

The charity is relaunching with an expanded committee, new brand and enhanced fundraising plans to ensure it can continue to drive forward its initiatives and deliver on its mission of ‘rebuilding childhoods’.

It will be collaborating directly with services in Coventry and Warwickshire to fund specialist practitioners to care for abused children.

The charity’s refreshed fundraising strategy will be underpinned by a payroll giving scheme, special fundraising events and a major annual charity ball.

Committee members and supporters joined together at Coventry Building Society Arena to mark the start of the charity’s new era, including new chair David Roberts, who has more than 50 years’ experience in the automotive industry and is the founder of EVTEC Automotive.

He said: “After speaking to former committee members, I was incredibly shocked to hear about the harsh reality of life which some children experience in Coventry and Warwickshire.

“If we can do even a little to help rebuild their childhoods, then we should.

“I’ve always believed in giving back and at the business we’ve quietly dedicated more than 40 per cent of our payroll to do that. Simply put, it is the right thing to do.

“This is a charity with an incredible legacy, built on the achievements of its past leaders, and it will be the responsibility of the new committee members to carry that forward with new energy and expertise.”

The renewed committee includes vice-chair Steve Norris, President Muff Murfin and Patron Ian Harnett, a former executive director at JLR.

It also includes Angelo Luciano, chief executive officer at Expert Tooling and Automation, Graham Hoare, chief executive at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Neil Endley, group managing director at TRIGO, Paul Nicholson, chief executive office at WHS Plastics and several other respected business figures.

Coventry Building Society Arena’s managing director Paul Michael has also joined the board and continues a long relationship between the Arena and Coventry and Warwickshire Children’s Charity.

The Arena is home to the charity’s showpiece annual fundraising ball, which attracts up to 600 guests for an evening of fundraising and is set to return this year on Friday, September 19 after a one-year hiatus.

Hamilton Bland has chaired the charity’s event committee for the last 18 years. He said: “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved previously, but our focus is now firmly on the future.

“Work is full steam ahead now with six months to go until the return of our charity ball, which is one of the biggest outside London, and will be crucial in raising the funds we need to deliver support for children throughout Coventry and Warwickshire.”

Coventry Building Society Arena has also announced it will be working with CWCC as one of its community partners.

Paul Michael added: “The charity ball has been a staple in our event calendar for the last 18 years and we’re proud to be expanding our support of Coventry and Warwickshire Children’s Charity.

“We are committed as a business to giving back to our community and making a positive lasting impact too. We are proud to be working closely with the charity’s committee in this exciting new era.”  

To find out more about Coventry & Warwickshire Children’s Charity and how to support visit www.cwcc.org.uk