Online coffee specialist Cherizena backs Macmillan Cancer Support

East Midlands-based coffee specialist Cherizena has launched a special blend of coffee to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. 

All profits from the sale of the full-flavoured coffee blend will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support and will be used to help cancer patients and their families in the region. 

“We have all been touched by cancer and know from first-hand what a wonderful job Macmillan Cancer Support do, so we are hoping our customers will help us to help them,” said Kate Jones, who runs Cherizena Coffee, which is based at Wartnaby on the Leicestershire/Nottinghamshire border. 

“All profits from the sale of this coffee will be donated directly to Macmillan to help their invaluable work.” 

The Macmillan coffee is a special blend from Central American and African coffees, resulting in a smooth and refreshing coffee that’s perfect for all-day drinking. 

Cherizena Coffee, which sells premium, speciality and flavoured coffee online and via mail order, is a family run business which supplies to trade customers as well as consumers. Its agents are a familiar sight at events and markets across the country. 

Jo Anne Wilson, fundraising manager at Leicestershire & Rutland Macmillan Cancer Support said: “More than one in three of us will get cancer. For most of us it will be the toughest fight we ever face. And the feelings of isolation and loneliness that so many people experience make it even harder. 

“But you don’t have to go through it alone. The Macmillan team is with you every step of the way. We are very grateful that Cherizena is supporting us by launching a special coffee, and we would like to thank the team and their customers for their generous help.” 

Every day 910 people are diagnosed with cancer, 42 of them in the East Midlands. 

In the last couple of years, Macmillan Cancer Support has invested in Leicestershire with the opening of the new information centre based at the Leicester Royal Infirmary in the Osbourne building. The expansion of the centre has meant a more welcoming and open environment for people to seek information and support face to face, with cancer information specialists on hand to talk to about any concerns that patients may have. More than 6,000 people have benefited from this facility since the doors opened in 2012. 

In 2013, Macmillan supported many Leicestershire families who were struggling with the cost of cancer. More than £111,000 was given out to families in the county to help with things like heating costs and everyday items that make life a little easier, for instance a new washing machine to cope with the extra loads that might be needed. 

“Macmillan rely on support from the public to fund their services to make sure no-one should face cancer alone and Cherizena customers will be helping us to achieve that,” said Jo Anne Wilson. “By supporting the Cherizena Macmillan Brand coffee all profits will be donated, helping Macmillan support our communities.” 

The Cherizena Macmillan Cancer Support blend is available via www.cherizena.co.uk and costs £3 for a 115g pack. Customers can choose either beans or ground coffee, with the option of fine, medium or coarse grind – depending on the equipment used to make coffee.   

For more information or to order visit www.cherizena.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Survival of the Shire horse celebrated at event on Northants/Leicestershire border

Shire horses will be demonstrating their roles throughout history when the national Shire Horse Society stages its first ever open day at Shire Farm, Rockingham Castle. 

The event on Sunday September 7^th will show how these magnificent horses have been involved in trades such as brewing, woodland management and agriculture over the years. 

It will celebrate the survival of a breed that nearly died out a century ago, and will also mark the first anniversary of the opening of the national charity’s headquarters at Rockingham, near Corby, on the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire border. 

“The Shire Horse as a breed has had a fascinating history,” said Shire Horse Society secretary David Ralley-Davies. “Native British horses were quite small and unable to carry knights wearing heavy suits of armour, so heavier breeds from the continent were introduced to Britain. 

“They were later used in agriculture and for pulling large loads on canals and to haul trams, wagons, drays and buses. When technology developed, the need for Shire horses declined and Shire horse numbers fell from well over a million to just a handful by the 1960s and the breed was in serious trouble. Since then a group of enthusiasts has worked to ensure that the breed survives. 

“The open day will be the chance for people to find out more about these gentle giants, which are now experiencing a resurgence in popularity both as a working animal and a riding horse. We mustn’t be complacent, however, and must ensure that we continue to raise awareness of the breed.” 

The Shire Horse Society, which is based on Uppingham Road, Rockingham, is the only charity dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse. Since 1878 the organisation has been working to protect the breed, which was then known as the Old English Breed of Cart Horse. 

It moved to Leicestershire from its previous headquarters at the East of England Showground near Peterborough a year ago, and the open day will be the first chance that the charity has had to welcome visitors to its new base. 

The event, which runs from 10am to 4pm on Sunday September 7^th, offers the opportunity to find out more about Shire horses in general and to see them working in the many roles that they have had throughout history and right up to their modern day use in riding, in-hand showing and at events such as weddings and promotions. 

Demonstrations include agricultural work and a display by Young’s Brewery dray horses. There will also be the chance to see a farrier in action, to learn more about the breeding of Shire horses, and to see some of the impressive horse brasses which have become synonymous with the breed. 

Tickets cost £5 on the day, with all profits going to the Shire Horse Society Charity, which runs the Save Our Shires campaign to protect the breed for years to come. There is free entry for children under 12. 

The Shire Horse Society is sponsoring the match ball at Corby Town Football Club’s home game against Truro City on Saturday August 30^th and earlier in the month, led the home team out ahead of its clash with Arlesey Town. Corby Town season ticket holders will receive a discount on tickets to the open day on presentation of their season ticket. 

The open day event is being supported by structures manufacturer Boldscan Ltd, which is providing a club house and will be showcasing its range of tents and other structures. 

“We hope the open day will raise awareness of the Shire Horse Society as a charity, will draw attention to the fact that the Shire horse is an endangered breed, and will raise funds so that we can go on protecting and promoting this noble breed,” added David Ralley-Davies. 

For more information visit www.shire-horse.org.uk or follow the charity on Facebook or Twitter - https://www.facebook.com/shirehorsesociety and @saveourshires

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Grant secured for historic town thanks to Focus Consultants

Interpretive design by PLB Projects
 

Focus Consultants has helped to secure a major Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant which will play a key part in showcasing the heritage of an historic Norfolk town. 

Experts at Focus supported the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk in its successful second round bid to the HLF, which resulted in a grant of £1,850,600 being awarded for improvements in the historic quarter of King’s Lynn. 

The grant is part of a cash injection of just under £5million which will fund two exciting projects that will enhance the King's Lynn St Margaret’s Conservation Area, remodel the Saturday Market Place and restore the town hall complex as a centre for the cultural life of the town. 

Focus has now been appointed to project manage the delivery of the Stories of Lynn project – a scheme to bring to life the stories of local people documented in the town’s impressive archive. King's Lynn was once a port of medieval importance, and the project will enable the story of the town's civic, social, economic and political life to be told.  

“We were very pleased to hear about the successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid, which Focus helped the council to develop and submit, and are now looking forward to bringing the ideas and plans to life,” said Mike Lee, associate at Focus Consultants. “The whole scheme will showcase King’s Lynn’s rich history, improve public access and will rejuvenate that area of the town.” 

Work is expected to begin early next year. 

The grant application is the latest in a string of successful applications supported by Focus, which is based at Phoenix Business Park, in Nottingham and has offices in Holborn, London, Leicester, Boston and Aubourn in Lincolnshire. 

Since being founded 20 years ago, in 1994, the firm has helped to secure more than £925 million of grant assistance for a range of projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.0 billion worth of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful businesses of its kind in the country.

For more information please visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk  
Press release issued by Nottingham-based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Focus Consultants wins commission for Lincolnshire housing scheme

Focus Consultants has been appointed by the Waterloo Housing Group on a scheme to redevelop one of the few derelict sites left in Boston in Lincolnshire into affordable housing for local people. 

The company has been secured as Employer’s Agent, CDM Co-ordinator, and Party Wall Surveyor for the development in Blue Street, on the site of the former Pilgrim Foods depot. The firm’s energy team will also provide energy carbon sustainability services for the project, which will create new homes for 41 families. 

Work has just got underway on the £5 million scheme, which is being built in two phases by D Brown Building Contractors Ltd. The development has also been supported by Boston Borough Council and the Homes and Communities Agency. Completion of the scheme is expected in Autumn 2015. 

Trevor Newton, Partner at Focus Consultants, which has an office at Endeavour Park, Boston, and another at Aubourn in Lincolnshire, said: “The team at Focus is very pleased to be part of this scheme, which is returning an area of derelict land in Boston back into use, and will lead to additional quality affordable homes being available in the town.” 

Focus, which also has offices in London, Nottingham and Leicester, offers a range of building services to the construction industry, including building surveying, quantity surveying, project management, CDM Co-ordinator services and sustainable development support. 

For more information visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Croots Farm Shop gets a gold star in the Great Taste Awards 2014

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has struck gold in the Great Taste Awards 2014 by winning a gold star for its smoked salmon pâté. 

The awards run by the Guild of Fine Food are regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the fine food world and the annual scheme is the largest and most trusted awards scheme for speciality fine food and drink in the UK. 

Croots Farm Shop, based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, has won a number of Great Taste Awards in previous years for its sausages, bacon, pork pie, ale, muesli and lemon oil. 

The latest gold star has been awarded for the store’s smoked salmon pâté, which is made of salmon that’s been smoked on the shop’s premises in its own smokery. The judges said: “A great appearance and good creamy texture with discernible pieces of fish.” 

Farm shop owner Steve Croot said: “We are really pleased to have added another gold star to our collection of awards. It’s the first we have received for our smoked salmon pâté, which is one of the most popular items on our deli counter here at Croots.” 

The shop has won scores of awards for its products since opening in 2008. Croots was also a runner-up in the Best UK Independent Food Retailer 2010 category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards. The year before, it was named in The Independent’s top 50 best food shops. 

Earlier this year, owner Steve Croot was named the Derbyshire Food Hero for 2014.

Croots Farm Shop is open daily from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm). Croots runs Fresh Fish Thursdays between 9am and 1pm on Thursdays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk 

@crootsfarm_shop

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Reminder from Focus Consultants that new round of Regional Growth Fund is open for bids

Funding experts at Focus Consultants are reminding firms and private sector organisations that the deadline for submitting applications for the latest slice of a £3.2 billion pot of grants is fast approaching. 

Round six of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, which aims to create economic growth and sustainable employment in England, is currently open for bidding. 

But with the deadline of 30^th September for applications only weeks away, companies and organisations are being urged to put together their bids now. 

Associate at Focus, Heather Frecklington, said: “Focus has supported a number of clients to secure investment from the Regional Growth Fund, with successes in both Rounds four and five.  This includes helping to secure more than £4 million of funding for manufacturer Bifrangi to develop a research and development centre in Lincoln. Focus worked closely with Bifrangi to develop their funding application, ensuring that the project demonstrated value for money and would support employment and training opportunities in the local community.” 

The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a £3.2 billion fund, which aims to help companies throughout England to create jobs between now and the mid-2020s. It supports projects and programmes that are using private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment. So far £2.9 billion has been awarded to almost 400 projects and programmes which are expected to deliver 573,000 jobs and £16 billion of private sector investment. 

Focus Consultants, which is based in Nottingham and has branches in London, Leicester, Boston and Aubourn in Lincolnshire, specialises in helping organisations access funding opportunities and offers support right through to project completion. Since being founded 20 years ago, in 1994, the firm has helped to secure more than £925 million of grant assistance for a range of projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.0 billion worth of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful businesses of its kind in the country. 

“The current round of RGF funding opened on June 19^th,” said Heather. “Funding is focused entirely on private enterprise proposals and is available for high quality projects that can generate significant private sector investment and create sustainable jobs. The minimum bid threshold is £1 million.” 

As a multi-disciplinary consultancy, Focus offers support at all stages of the RGF process – from the initial concept and applying for funding through the design and development stage to project managing the works. 

For more information visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk