Clouds are at the heart of how life on our planet functions and thrives. They are part of the water cycle that allows vegetation to grow, rivers to flow, and our society to prosper. As a business, we typically work with a very different kind of cloud.
Yet, that cyclical process of growth and prosperity is very much at the heart of what we do. Whether that involves working with our clients to foster long-term mutually beneficial relationships that push us both to succeed or through our work giving back to the community.
We’re incredibly proud of the work we’ve done, and the donations we’ve helped raise, to support our various Charities of the Year. We’re believers that positivity and generosity can have a way of benefiting all those involved.
Read on to learn about our work with our 2024 Charity of the Year, Maggie’s, and the reasons behind our 2025 choice – Little Miracles.
Maggie’s charity strives to offer cancer patients the additional support they so badly need
Maggie Keswick Jencks was a successful writer, gardener, and designer whose life was turned upside down with a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 47.
While left with her husband to digest the news in a cold, windowless corridor at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital, they discussed the need for somewhere better for cancer patients to go for additional comfort outside of their hospital visits.
It was out of this initial conversation that the idea for Maggie’s independent cancer centres was born.
Maggie’s centres are independent of the NHS but are typically situated next to key hospitals. The charity aims to offer cancer patients the emotional, financial, and social support they require beyond any medical treatment.
Maggie was determined that people should not “lose the joy of living in the fear of dying”.
At the start of 2024, our team named Maggie’s our Charity of the Year and worked closely with their Nottingham centre to raise awareness and donations.
Our staff were active and involved throughout the year, helping to raise much-needed funds for the charity through fundraising events, such as:
- The Robin Hood Marathon (£1782.64)
- Spin the Wheel (£2665.00)
- Gift Aid (£448.25)
In total, our team managed to raise £7266.62 for Maggie’s.
We hope that the money raised helps the charity, especially in our local area, provide that extra bit of support to those in need.
We’re proud to name Little Miracles our 2025 Charity of the Year
Founded in 2010 by Michelle King, Little Miracles is a charity that specialises in supporting families that have children with:
- Additional needs
- Disabilities
- Life-limiting conditions
The charity believes all children should have access to a place to play, laugh, and create friendships. Many families faced with raising children with special needs struggle with isolation, exclusion, and additional stress. Little Miracles works hard to offer them the vital support they need and provides a platform to allow their children to flourish.
Michelle set up the charity on the back of her own experiences raising a son with life-limiting conditions. She knows all too well how important support and the opportunity to network can be for families facing additional care challenges.
Read more: Little Miracles | Our history
Karen Gibbons, a Sage Consultant in Solutions’ implementation and training team, nominated Little Miracles as our Charity of the Year for 2025. In Karen’s words, her passion for the charity was derived from a meeting with Michelle several years ago.
She said: “I met Michelle King, their CEO, at a networking event many years ago. Her passion and drive are incredible. Steve, my husband, and I have supported them ever since.
We have friends and family who have children with disabilities, and we know from their experiences over the years how isolating it can be and how important it is to have a charity like Little Miracles”.
Karen is going to spearhead our fundraising throughout 2025. Please keep an eye out for updates and key events through our social media channels.
A little rainfall on the right plot of land could end up sprouting a mighty tree
According to CAF online, the 2023 UK Giving Report found that the British public donated £13.9 billion to charity across the year despite the financial pressures caused by the cost of living crisis.
Meanwhile, Charity Digital reports that 53% of charities expected their key income growth in 2024 to come from fundraising events and activities.
At Solutions, we know how fundamental charity work can be when working to grow and support a community. It can also be an incredibly tax-efficient way to utilise your excess funds considering the associated tax relief.
Read more: Donating to charity
If you’d like to help us with any of our charitable endeavours, please call 0115 840 5075 or email us at enquiries@solutionscloud.uk to start the conversation.
