Our Proud Partnership with Shelter: Making a Difference Together

 

Last year, we were incredibly proud to partner with Shelter as our Charity of the Year. Shelter is a vital housing and homelessness charity dedicated to defending the right to a safe home for everyone.

 

The statistics they shared paint a stark picture of the housing emergency. In February 2024, a staggering 142,490 children were homeless, marking a significant 14% increase (16,960) in just one year. Furthermore, 279,400 people were living in temporary accommodation, the majority of whom were families. Government figures revealed the long-term impact, with almost half (47%) of families in temporary accommodation having been there for over two years.

 

That’s why Affinity was committed to fundraising for Shelter, supporting their crucial mission to solve the housing emergency and ensure every family has a place to call home. Shelter’s tireless work in providing essential support, free legal advice, and impactful campaigns for systemic change serves as a lifeline for thousands of people facing housing insecurity.

 

Learn more about Shelter

Money we’ve raised for Shelter

 

 

Throughout the year, we committed to supporting Shelter by organising a variety of fundraising events. Our efforts aim to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need. Below, you can see the total amount we have raised during 2024 and the start of 2025. Thank you for your generosity and dedication to this important cause.

 

A Spirited Christmas

December at Affinity was a whirlwind of festive fun and charitable giving, truly embracing our Spirited value! Our “A Spirited Christmas” campaign saw the team come together in a fantastic effort to support Shelter.

And the best part? Together, we’ve raised just over £635 for Shelter, making a real difference in the lives of those in need this Christmas. A massive thank you to everyone who participated, baked, quizzed, and generously donated!

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Give it Up Charity Fundraiser

 

The Give it Up challenge asks participants to give up something they love for one month. Whether you’re a coffee lover, obsessed with chocolate or fancy going veggie, this challenge asks that you commit to giving something up for one month and asking for sponsorship from friends, family and colleagues.

 

In total we raised a grant total of £533 for Shelter. All money raised went directly to Shelter to support its mission to end the housing emergency.

 

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Conference Charity Raffle

 

One of the highlights of our conference this year was the charity raffle we organised in support Shelter. Our sponsors donated a range of prizes including a signed Birmingham football t-shirt and a £250 holiday voucher. Raffle tickets were sold throughout the event.

 

We are proud to announce that, thanks to the collective efforts and donations of everyone involved, we successfully raised a total of £1560 for Shelter!

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Our Year-Round Support for Shelter

 

Throughout the year, we ran four fundraising activities in support of Shelter.

 

Every donation made a real difference:

  • Just £5 helped fund a webchat providing essential emergency housing advice.
  • Donating £10 helped answer an urgent call to the Shelter helpline.
  • £50 enabled one of Shelter’s legal advisers to complete an application for legal aid funding.
  • £100 helped pay for legal advice to help a family in crisis keep their home.

 

In addition to our fundraising efforts for Shelter, we also set up Donation Stations at each of our office locations. Staff were able to donate clothes to be sold in Shelter charity shops, supporting both Shelter’s vital work and our sustainable business goals.