Slimming World go for Gold and raise £6k in charity collection

Generous employees at Slimming World’s Derbyshire head office waved goodbye to more than 230 purple bags filled with clothes, shoes, toys and homeware to support the company’s Big Golden Slimming World Clothes Throw initiative, to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

With each filled bag worth up to £25 or £30 with Gift Aid when re-sold, the 237 bags collected by Slimming World employees will raise an estimated £6,000 for the company’s national charity partner - Cancer Research UK and stock will fill local shops in Sutton, Ashfield, Bulwell, Arnold, Sherwood and Derby.

The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw, which has been running since 2013, invites Slimming World’s group members and Consultants to donate the clothes, shoes and accessories they have successfully slimmed out of to local Cancer Research UK shops. To boost activity, staff at Slimming World’s Derbyshire Head Office have also got behind the drive.

This year the initiative goes ‘Gold’ as Slimming World celebrates its 50^th birthday year, and as part of the Big Golden Slimming World Clothes Throw, group members and Consultants who find a special golden bag will be in with a chance to win a VIP shopping and makeover experience.

The campaign, which runs annually for two weeks, has generated over £12 million worth of stock since 2013 and aims to raise another £3 million. To recognise the efforts so far Slimming World was recently presented with a Special Achievement Award by Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, Michelle Mitchell.

On hand to count up the bags and load the Cancer Research UK collection van was Slimming World’s current Employee of the Year Jack Plant. Jack works as a Test Analyst, and ensures that Slimming World’s digital products and services including the website and app deliver the high quality expected by the organisation’s 900,000 members, 5,000 Consultants and 350 Head Office staff.

Jack, who has worked for Slimming World for three years, says: “There’s always something fun going on at Slimming World, it’s one of the reasons I love working here! We look forward to the Clothes Throw every year because it’s a great excuse for us all to have a wardrobe clear-out and raise money for an amazing charity at the same time. I couldn’t believe how many bags we had managed to collect between us. Packing them all into the Cancer Research UK van took some serious muscle!”

Slimming World’s Campaigns and Planning Manager, Clare Lee, manages the national fundraising campaign. She says: “Our 350 head office employees always go above and beyond when we ask them to support our charity activities – and this year was no different! The Cancer Research UK van that came to collect the bags was full to the brim and local shops were delighted to receive so much valuable stock. Every t-shirt, pair of shoes and jeans collected helps to make a difference by going towards Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. As it’s our 50th birthday this year we’re putting a little extra in everything we do – it’s a year-long celebration for us.”