As we near the end of January, the festive season might feel like a distant memory, but we couldn’t let the month pass without extending a heartfelt thank you to the local Co-operative FuneralCare, for their generous donation given to Enable Ability just before Christmas.
Sally, a Funeral & Memorial Consultant at the Tangier Road branch, shared how the team participated in the ‘Love Baffins Christmas Market’ on Saturday, 30th November, inspired by their enjoyment of the event the previous year. Alongside Danni from the Paulsgrove branch, the duo began planning as early as August to ensure the event’s success.
The ‘Love Baffins Christmas Market’ is a much-loved annual event in the Baffins area of Portsmouth, bringing together local retailers, churches, and independent stallholders. Running from 11am to 3pm, the market offers a fantastic day of community fun and activities.
The Co-operative FuneralCare team set up their own stalls outside their branch, offering a variety of engaging games and activities. These included ‘Find Rudolph’s Red Nose,’ festive scratchcards, and a Grinch-inspired ‘Find the Presents’ game under green cups—all with prizes for both winners and participants. Sally noted that all the goodies and prizes were generously provided by the Co-op, and she was incredibly grateful for her company’s support.
Sally said,
“The ‘Love Baffins Christmas Market’ has quickly become a popular event, bringing the community together. It’s a fantastic day for locals to enjoy what businesses have to offer, and through the event, we have been able to support local charities. I’m so grateful for the support we received at branch level to make our event possible. Although it’s a lot of work, Danni and I had so much fun planning it. On the day, we were non-stop with people queuing at our stall, and we raised £730 in total – it was amazing! We’re already looking forward to this year’s market.”
This year, Sally decided to split the proceeds from their stall among several local charities she works with, and Enable Ability was fortunate to be one of the beneficiaries. Hollie, our Partnerships and Events Officer, shared her gratitude:
“Just before Christmas, I received an email from Sally asking if I could visit her. To my surprise, she presented me with a £170 donation for Enable Ability! It was such a wonderful and unexpected gesture. I hadn’t even known about the ‘Love Baffins’ event, but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for it this year!”
A huge thank you to Sally and the Tangier Road Co-operative FuneralCare branch for their generosity and ongoing support. We truly appreciate your kindness and commitment to supporting our work in the community.