Communicare in Southampton

Osme Candles has signed up to Work for Good and will donate 10% of all of its sales made to Communicare using the code W4G22.

Paula Grady, who owns Osme Candles in Fareham, says: “We are thrilled to be donating 10% of all sales made using the code W4G22, to Communicare. One of the reasons we wanted to support this charity is because I volunteer as a befriender myself and I realise what the importance of supporting and meeting others really means.

“Customers who use the code will not only know they are helping a good cause, but they will also receive 5% off their purchase too.”

Osme Candles is a British chandler, specialising in hand-scented, hand-poured candles made from materials from sustainable sources.

The company is constantly looking for ways to reduce its carbon and environmental footprint and is continuously exploring ways of moving forwards by being greener and more socially responsible.

The soy waxes used in its candles are all from certified eco-friendly, sustainable sources and its essential oil scents are from organic and sustainable sources wherever possible, even its packaging is made from recycled materials.

It has also tested and made sure that the 100% cotton wicks burn with a minimum of soot and its glassware can be reused as drinking glassware once the candles reach their end.

Osme Candles employs only staff in the UK, supports flexible working arrangements and is dedicated to a diverse and inclusive culture in its team.

Communicare Development Officer, Nick Thomas, said: "We are so excited to have Osme Candles collaborate with us by offering a donation code. Ten percent of all sales made using the code W4G22 will come to us and all customers who use the code will get 5% off their purchase too.

Osme Candles owner Paula is an inspiring lady whose business is testimony of her strong ethics. She leads an environmentally friendly company while taking social responsibility seriously."

Any small businesses that would like to find out more about supporting us via Work For Good, can find out more here.

We are thrilled to announce that Strobia Creative has committed to giving back to its community by signing up to our new business partnership initiative.

Strobia Creative will be donating 5% of all its sales via Work for Good to us.

Louis Edoo, who started and runs Strobia Creative in Sway in the New Forest, said: “I recently met Nick Thomas from Communicare at a business event and what he told me about the charity and the work it does really resonated with me.

“Throughout the pandemic I was doing some other charitable work in the local community, and it has really pushed me to help out more where I can, so when Nick told me about the initiative with Work for Good, I was happy to donate to such a worthy cause. It’s a really exciting venture and I’m looking forward to what the future holds and how I can help out further.

“I hope my donation will go a long way towards helping the charity and the work it does in the community.”

Strobia Creative specialises in 2D graphics, 3D design and visualisation, photo, video and audio.

Our Development Officer, Nick Thomas, said: “We are thrilled to have Louis and Strobia Creative sign up to our new initiative. Having got to know Louis, he is a man with strong values similar to Communicare’s so I am so encouraged by his desire to make a positive difference.”

“Louis’ generous donations will really help fund the wonderful work we do and will benefit the vulnerable and isolated people of Southampton.”

A SOUTHAMPTON-BASED business that empowers people to stay mobile by looking after themselves has signed up to a charity’s new business partnership initiative (May 2022).

Ways to Move, which is run by Eleanor van der Hoest, will be donating 5% of every booking via Work for Good to Communicare, which helps vulnerable and isolated people in Southampton.

Eleanor said: “I am passionate about helping people, especially seniors, to enjoy good quality of life, which is in line with the work Communicare does supporting the vulnerable and isolated in the community. This is why, when I heard about its call for small, independent businesses to work with the team to create bespoke fundraising opportunities, I thought it was the perfect partnership.

“I have committed to donate to Communicare, 5% from my takings, which I hope will go a long way towards the fantastic work the charity does.”

Ways to Move empowers people to stay independent into advancing age through a unique, personalised service.

Eleanor promotes natural ease of movement in walking and everyday movement, in a variety of fun, non-strenous ways. This empowerment likewise applies to her cycling tuition and coaching in computer skills. Eleanor believes in Albert Einstein’s quote “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

She said: “I discovered the joys of dancing freely in my youth and having incorporated it into my own life, it is now part of my toolkit for empowering other people to maintain balance, poise and independence.”

“Supporting my mum in her last years and working with older people with dementia, Parkinson’s disease or frailty, gave me insights into overcoming the obstacles of ageing. This led me to develop a passion for staying well throughout life and the best way to do this is through movement.”

Anyone interested in booking Eleanor for any of her sessions, should visit www.waystomove.co.uk, email eleanor@waystomove.co.uk or call 07952 314768.

Communicare Development Officer, Nick Thomas, said: “Eleanor and Ways to Move is the second business to sign up to our new initiative and we are thrilled to have them on board.

“Eleanor’s work helping older people is in a similar realm to what we do and we really hope we can work together in more ways than this. Her generous donations to us will go a long way to helping fund the work we do to help vulnerable and isolated people in Southampton.”

Any other Southampton-based companies interested in creating bespoke fundraising opportunities that are mutually beneficial should get in touch with Nick at Communicare on 07874 868 241 or email nick@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk.

He added: “We will promote those we partner with through our social media pages, website, e-newsletter and PR activity, giving them a potentially greater reach and also helping raise awareness of their brand to a new audience and market for them.

“Businesses that work with us will have improved visibility, as people notice when you give back to the community. They will also experience positive marketing – associating their venture with a good cause will help customers see a brand in a positive light, in contrast to competitors who may be focusing on maximising profits. The relationship should also assist with long-term customer loyalty – customers feel good buying from a company that cares and are, therefore, more likely to return and advocate on behalf of that business too.

“Finally, it will help boost profits, because supporting a community encourages people to see a firm as an integral part of that neighbourhood, and therefore back the enterprise too.”

Communicare, which is a friendly, neighbourhood charity, provides services that enrich the lives of lonely and isolated people in and around Southampton.

Its services are staffed by its devoted volunteers, known as Communiteers, who give their time freely.

The charity is currently supporting around 570 individuals/families through tasks including one-to-one telephone befriending and transport for essential appointments and assistance with shopping.

Now Covid rules have lifted, Communicare is once again assisting with trips to lunch clubs, social events and activities to help beat isolation and loneliness too.

The services Communicare provides are free to users, although beneficiaries are invited to make a donation if they are able to, and Communiteers are offered expenses.

To find out more about Communicare, please visit www.communicareinsouthampton.org.uk or call 023 8250 0050.