Compass delivers Christmas spirit to local communities and national charities 

This Christmas, teams from across Compass Group UK & Ireland have been working with local and national charities in the communities where they work, supporting thousands of people across the country.

Over the last few weeks, Compass colleagues have been carrying out a number of fundraising and volunteering activities including:

• One Retail has raised over £20,000 Alzheimer’s Society with their annual ‘Elf Week’, where colleagues across sites dressed up as elves to put a smile on people’s faces this festive season. This is in addition to One Retail announcing earlier this year that they have surpassed £500,000 raised for Alzheimer’s Society, across the entire partnership to date.
• Medirest colleagues at Southend Hospital held a bake sale, which raised almost £500 for Southend Foodbank, the money will go towards helping people through tough times with emergency food and practical support.
• Three Medirest team members took part in the Sophie’s Legacy 10k for the charity. This supports their ongoing work together to deliver free meals to the parents and carers of unwell children in hospitals (paediatric patients on extended clinical care plans) across 20 NHS Trusts.
• The Eurest and 14forty team donned their aprons at Compass’ Parklands office to lend a hand hosting Christmas lunch for the West Midlands FoodCycle team leaders. These inspiring individuals work tirelessly year-round to transform surplus food into delicious meals, creating communities and tackling loneliness across the region.
• Dine has donated £500 worth of food for Steadychefs, to use in hampers for those in need this Christmas.
• ESS Energy colleagues are preparing over 7,000 meals as well as food hampers to support people in need this Christmas. Recipients will be given a meal pack that will feed them for several days over the festive period. The initiative is being supported by donations from ESS supply partners.
• A number of sites within the ESS business have collected food and supplies for local charities like food banks and homeless shelters, across the UK.
• Within Chartwells Universities, its Sustainability Manager at the University of Sussex arranged a collection to gather new warm clothes and festive food items for those living in vulnerable conditions. Donations were distributed at the Safehaven event, and the team helped serve meals to 130 attendees.
• Across the UK, over 2,800 children and families engaged with Chartwells through the Department for Education HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) Programme.
• Compass Scotland has worked with the EICC to create a special event for local people with dementia. 100 guests were invited for a traditional two-course Christmas lunch while they watched the Christmas classic, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ on the big screen.
• Compass Scotland will also be serving 120 meals over two days in partnership with The Larder community cafes and preparing 500 meals ready to distribute through West Lothian.
• Compass Cymru hosted Llamau Homeless Charity providing a full three course Christmas lunch to over 100 people, alongside organised games and gifts. This is the second year that the partnership has hosted this event.
• Restaurant Associates and Rapport have been selling Christmas cards created by students at West Lea School and their employee network “Be Kind” are organising a “GiftCycle” project, where they’ll be collecting unused gifts after the festive period to help raise more funds for charity partners.
• During a week filled with festive generosity, CH&CO offices came together for a successful toy drive and charity raffle. Teams donated over 80 gifts to support ELBA’s (East London Business Alliance) Toy Appeal, spreading joy to children in need who may not otherwise receive a present this Christmas. Additionally, the charity raffle raised an impressive £800 for King’s Trust.
• Levy is dedicated to making a positive impact on the communities it serves, especially during the festive season. All Levy teams at its partner venues participate in initiatives that bring Christmas cheer to those in need. This includes countless Christmas lunches for the less fortunate across stadium and conference portfolio.
• Plus, Jockey Club Catering activity ranges from the Carlisle Racecourse team volunteering at its local food bank to ensure everyone can enjoy a meal at Christmas, to the team at Cheltenham donating gifts to the Pied Piper Appeal, helping to make a difference in the lives of sick and disabled children in Gloucestershire. Haydock Park Racecourse invited ‘unsung heroes’ from a local primary school for a tour of the paddock and weighing room, followed by a Christmas lunch and quiz.
• Foodbuy and other Compass sectors will continue to reduce and redistribute surplus food working with partners including Farehare, Olio and Too Good To Go.

Laura Neville, Head of Social Value for Compass Group UK & Ireland commented: “Our teams continue to deliver social value in the communities we operate in. I’m immensely proud of what we have been able to achieve in 2024 and our people never fail to amaze me with their generosity of time and kindness to help others less fortunate, especially at Christmas. Thanks to everyone for their dedication in doing good!”