Avantguard's Community & Environmental Projects
Turning Tides Donations
As is our custom every year, we made our annual Christmas Donation to Turning Tides to assist with their incredibly important work supporting the homeless community in West Sussex. Now, more than ever, they are facing impossible challenges and working in the most difficult circumstances to provide support, guidance and solutions to those in need.
As well as a financial donation, we are donating several boxes of shirts and trousers which will hopefully be useful in a variety of ways, whether they are simply used as extra layers, or perhaps a smart change of clothes for a potential interview situation.
Adopting A Beehive
This month, in honour of World Bee Day, Avantguard have adopted 2 bee hives in Sussex through SW Honey Farms.
They are doing important work to keep our bee population thriving and producing some delicious honey on the side.
Bees are absolutely essential to our eco-system and 'without bees there is no life'.
Woolly Hat Day 2022
Avantguard took part in Woolly Hat Day again this year and with Storm Eunice in full force, it was certainly a day to be wearing a woolly hat.
Thanks to all our team who joined in and for the honary contribution on behalf of Office Dog Moomin.
We are pleased to announce that our team raised £79.37 between them and Avantguard double the donation to make a total contribution of £158.75.
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As is our custom at this time of year, Avantguard have made an annual donation to Turning Tides, working with the local homless community in West Sussex.
With reduced funding but a huge increase in demand for their services, now more than every it is important to do all we can to help those less fortunate than ourselves.
Please click on the link below which will take you to the Turning Tides Christmas Appeal where you can get ideas on the various ways in which you could help.
Sussex Local Produce Hampers
This year's Christmas Hampers for our team were again made entirely from local Sussex Produce. It's been a tough year for small businesses with COVID-19 lockdowns and uncertainty, coupled with supply chain issues and recruitment problems. We are very grateful to the local producers who have pulled out all the stops to provide the produce to fill our staff hampers.
To find out more about what was included in our hampers, where it came from and how you can contact the local producers, please click below for the full story.
Turning Tides - Christmas Donation
As is our custom at this time of year, Avantguard have made an annual donation to Turning Tides, working with the local homless community in West Sussex.
This year more than any other, their Christmas Appeal was hugely important due to an increasing need for their services as people find themselves out of work and homeless due to the COVID-19 crisis. On top of this, their funding has been severly reduced so donations and help are greatly needed.
Please click on the link below which will take you to the Turning Tides Christmas Appeal where you can get ideas on the various ways in which you could help.
Sussex Local Produce Hampers
This year's Christmas Hampers for our team were entirely made from local Sussex Produce. During this difficult year, local producers and small businesses have suffered as a result of constant closures and restrictions due to Covid-19 and the cancellation of festivals and fetes.
We wanted to do something to help the local economy so we went to a selection of producers on our doorstep and placed orders to fulfil a hamper for all of our staff.
To find out more about what was included in our hampers, where it came from and how you can contact the local producers, please click below for the full story.
As part of our Carbon Offsetting policy, we make a regular monthly donation to the Woodland Trust for their Carbon Donation Scheme.
This helps to fund the planting and maintenance of trees and native woodland.
The monthly donation will also help to capture and store around 15 tonnes of carbon, accumulating all the time.
February 2020 - Woolly Hat Day
The team at Avantguard got involved with this year's Woolly Hat Day. Many staff members made a donation to the cause and then wore their woolly hats to work.
We were pleased to see that our team in total donated £135.00 and Avantguard doubled the donation to make a grand total of £270.00 toward this worthy cause for Turning Tides.
Great job everyone.
December 2019 - Barfoots Staff Raffle
Avantguard have donated a voucher for The Goodwood Spin & Slide Experience to Barfoots of Botley, who are holding a Staff Raffle for Chestnut Tree.
We hope this Raffle goes well.
November 2019 - Shoreham Vehicles Charity Auction
Avantguard have donated a voucher for The Goodwood Spin & Slide Experience to Shoreham Vehicle Auctions, who are holding a Charity Auction for Chestnut Tree.
We hope they raise lots of money for this worthy charity.
October 2019 - Turning Tides
Avantguard have contributed towards Turning Tides Harvest Donation.
We are pleased to hear that the Harvest Collection was successful and that they were kind enough to thank us for our donation.
September 2019 - Woodingdean Wanderers Sponsorship
Avantguard have this month continued our sponsorship of Woodingdean Wanderers Under 14s Claret Team for another season.
Last season (Under 13s) they finished 5th in the Under 13s Division 5, scoring 20 points and racking up 6 wins. Well done to the team.
So far this season they have played 1 match which resulted in a draw against Lewes FC Under 14s.
July 2019 - Apulstock
Avantguard are proud to once again be sponsoring Apulstock this year.
Apulstock is a music festival aimed at people with learning difficulties but is open to everyone and is a great family friendly event.
There's a huge variety of stalls and activities and a fantastic line-up of live music, with tickets starting at just £5.00.
May 2019 - Update on Jon's Trip to Kenya
Following our last article about Jon's trip to Kenya, we've now had an update from him about the progress they made during the trip. Here's a brief summary.
Essential maintenance was carried out at the Children's Home including plumbing, electrics, painting and some reinforcing of the joists.
Unfortunately, they were not able to carry out any work on the 'half-way housing' as originally planned because they are still fundraising for materials for this project. The donation which Avantguard gave has been set aside for this project and will be used when they have the full fundraising to go ahead with this part of the project.
Whilst Jon was at the Home, he attended a traditional Kenyan wedding ceremony as some of the Scottish trustees wanted to celebrate their nuptuals with the children at the Home.
They also treated the children to lunch out, swimming and a trip to an adventure park.
Jon hopes to return again in 2021 to continue with the project and the works at the centre.
April 2019 - Jon's Trip to Kenya
Jon Harris is the nephew of Tony Woolcott (Avantguard Managing Director) and also works for Spellman High Voltage who are a long standing client of Avantguard.
Both Spellman and Avantguard are supporting Jon with a trip to Nakuru in Kenya this month. This is the second trip for Jon in connection with the St Jerome's Charity who are a UK based charitable organisation run by volunteers.
His first trip was in 2014 when he went over to help build a Children's Home for orphans and children from poor families that cannot afford to care for them.
He is now returning to build a half-way house for the children in their late teens so that they can have their own space and start preparing for adult life.
These projects are purely achieved through donations and volunteers giving up their time.
We wish Jon lots of luck on this fantastic endeavour.
February 2019 - Kirsty's Colour Obstacle Rush
On 22 June 2019, Kirsty from the Office Team will be taking part in the Colour Obstacle Rush in Brighton. She is raising runds for St Barnabas House Hospice through her just giving page:
November 2018 - Chestnut Tree Auction and Raffle
This month, Avantguard donated prizes to two of our clients for an auction and a raffle, both raising funds for Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice Care.
We donated brand new laptops to our clients Shoreham Vehicle Auctions and Barfoots of Botley.
Shoreham Vehicle Auctions held their annual auction and raised a fantastic £34,000 for the charity.
Barfoots of Botley held a staff raffle which raised £1,500 for Chestnut Tree
July 2018 - Strep B Stomp Success
The Strep B Stomp took place in Worthing on 01 July 2018 and was a huge success.
The weather was fantastic which always helps to make an outdoor event more enjoyable.
There were 110 participants in the Stomp and the event raised over £3000 for the Group B Strep Support (GBSS) Charity.
Well done to everyone who took part!
If you would like more information about the charity or the fundraising events.
July 2018 - Strep B Stomp
Last year Avantguard sponsored the Strep B Stomp along Worthing seafront and it was a huge success.
Once again this year Avantguard are Silver Sponsors of the event which is due to take place on 01st July 2018. The 3km or 5km fun run is in Victoria Park, Worthing, from 1pm.
There will also be lots of family entertainment and fun and why not take a picnic to finish off the afternoon.
April 2018 - Maddie's Mission
This month, Avantguard have donated to the very noble cause of Maddie Martin who is the niece of a long-term member of our team.
Maddie is only 13 but dreams of being an international and paralymptic wheelchair basketball champion. She took up the sport at age 10 and has already been spotted as a potential for the paralympic team in the future.
However, the level of commitment and training needed for her future career comes at a huge cost and unfortunately, Maddie isn't yet old enough to qualify for funding.
Maddie's family are looking for all the help they can get with Maddie's mission and have set up a GoFundMe page for donations:
