Stick ‘n’ Step strikes gold with help from John Lewis Partnership
05 August 2024
We are delighted to report that an employee of the John Lewis Partnership has been seconded to work for us full time for six months as part of the company’s Golden Jubilee Trust. Established in 2000, the Golden Jubilee Trust funds the donation of time and skills of John Lewis Partners via placements in around 50 charities per year.
Kate Duffy, who lives in Wirral, and has worked for John Lewis for the last six years, applied to take part in the scheme at the beginning of the year. Having worked in the electricals department of the John Lewis Liverpool store, she was familiar with our work as a result of the store’s support for us and she was inspired to do more having volunteered at a couple of our fundraising events.
Having gone through a long selection process, Kate was thrilled to learn she had been successful in her application. She is now working for us until the end of the year, when she will return to her role at John Lewis.
Working across our two centres in Runcorn and Wallasey, Kate’s wide-ranging role will include community outreach for our new Early Intervention Programme and developing resources to support our parents.
Kate says,
I have always been aware of the multiple challenges people with cerebral palsy face as one of my closest childhood friends has cerebral palsy. When the opportunity arose to apply for the Golden Jubilee Trust, choosing a charity to go and work for was easy as I have long been an admirer of Stick ‘n’ Step. I’m keen to use my experience and skills to make a tangible difference to the charity over the next six months.
Our Acting CEO Sarah Smithson comments,
As soon as we met Kate we were bowled over by her enthusiasm and attitude. She has already taken part in a fundraising sky dive on our behalf! We are so grateful to her and the John Lewis Partnership for this secondment. Charities are facing a really challenging time currently and having Kate’s support will make a world of difference to us and the young people we support across the region.
