Sponsorship

We are the proud, exclusive sponsor of a fantastic local charity called The Rugby Portobello Trust operating in Notting Hill and North Kensington. The Trust contributes to our local community through a wide range of activities and learning programmes which aims to raise the self-esteem and independence of the vulnerable and homeless. At present, they work with about 750 young people under the age of 25 every week and have achieved outstanding results for our local community.

We support the charity in various different ways. Each year, we have up to six volunteers from Marsh & Parsons who run the London Marathon to raise money for the Trust and we also have 10 staff members running

The British 10k London Run.

We also support the annual Drinks Party & Shopping Night and Christmas Fair which are always a huge success offering great stalls ranging from shoes to jewellery to pickles. There is always a significant turn-out of supporters who have the opportunity to enjoy a few glasses of wine while they do their Christmas shopping. The silent auction also contributes a huge amount to the night which includes, for example, signed books, spa weekends, signed sporting memorabilia and holidays abroad. We are fortunate enough to boast our very own in-house ‘Hot Air Balloonist’ and last Christmas we offered shoppers the chance to bid on an exclusive flight.

In 2007, the total money raised reached in the region of £20,000 and all proceeds will be going towards an extremely worthy and local cause. For more information about any projects in 2008, please contact Lucy McGinley on 020 7313 5275.

rugbyportobello.org.uk

For the past three years, we have enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the St. Mary Abbots Church on Kensington Church Street. The Church, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, houses the tallest spire in London and although it was built just 130 years ago, it has been a place of worship for nearly 1,000 years.

In June this year we supported the annual Summer Fete at the Vicarage Garden & Hall. The theme was "Robin Hood" and everyone was able to benefit from the exciting games, the varied stalls and an excellent face painter, provided by Marsh & Parsons. This year the event attracted more than 500 people and raised in excess of £6,500.

For the past two years we have also supported the Mayor’s Christmas Carol Concert featuring the choir from the St Mary Abbots School. The evening is always a great success and David Cameron is often on hand to help give out the Marsh & Parsons goody bags to the choir.

The Addison Primary School, situated in the heart of Brook Green, has an annual Summer Disco in May and a Santa’s Grotto in December for its pupils. We are supporting both of these events for the third year in a row and are delighted with how our support continues to help the school raise money.

Each year we’re on hand to help out, whether it is blowing up the balloons, helping Santa wrap the gifts, or even taking on the role of a Christmas elf (Teresa from our Brook Green office pictured).

Funds raised are used to enhance children’s learning in a variety of different ways, including visits out of school and theatre performances in school. Extra resources are also purchased and money from the Christmas Fair has funded a new portable stage. The Summer Fair funds are part-funding major improvements to the children’s playground.

The 2008 St John’s Festival is in its sixth consecutive year and Marsh & Parsons has been part of the programme for the last three years. The festival runs for two weeks in May and is held within the church grounds offering a showcase of local talent from the community. The Church, built in 1845 lies at the heart of the community and is the perfect place for all of Notting Hill’s residents to get together.

The festival is richly diverse with something for young and old, and from every background. Each year the festival features a Children’s workshop, various exhibitions of art and a guest speaker (this year Baroness P.D. James). The festival also hosts the annual May Fair, a traditional village fete with a bouncy castle, a coconut shy, crafts and a BBQ.

johnsfestival.org.uk

Marsh & Parsons were the primary sponsor of 2008's Clapham Common Fayre, an event that attracts between 2,000 and 3,000 people each year. We designed and printed the posters and flyers and also put up boards in and around Clapham to help promote the day.

The day included, to name just a few of the attractions, donkey rides, a beer tent, a dog show and a silent auction.

On the day, we came with our elephant game and staff members (pictured) from our Balham, Battersea and Clapham offices were all there to help out. The game raised £55 and the overal amount raised by the Fayre on the day came to over £20,000 which goes towards the work of the Church, and Emmaus, a charity which supports homeless people.