Catherine volunteers on Osprey project

Catherine Soper from our East Grinstead office will be volunteering for two weeks with the RSPB at its Osprey Project in North Wales.

The project involves working at the RSPB Visitor’s Centre in the Glaslyn Valley in Snowdonia, home to the only pair of Ospreys in Wales. The work will involve surveillance of the pair to prevent poaching of their eggs and to engage the public with the project, which aims to establish an Osprey population in Wales.

The Centre’s surveillance hide provides a unique view of the Ospreys' nest and enables visitors to gain a valuable insight into these magnificent birds as well as the workings of Europe's largest conservation charity.

To sponsor Catherine’s RSPB project please go to http://www.justgiving.com/catherinesoper

Jonathan Goring is done and dusty at Cannes

Mayor of London Boris Johnson turned out to greet riders at the finish of the six day 1500km Cycle to Cannes charity challenge.

Jonathan Goring completed the race, raising money for the Over the Wall charity…

“We finally made it to Cannes, after 56 hours of cycling, 40,000 calories, 1500 km and 50 pee stops. An epic trip through beautiful countryside with a total of 12000m of painful ascents and some hair raising descents.

The arrival was spectacular as the whole Peleton rolled into town flanked by motorcycle out riders before being met by Boris Johnson.

We cycled down with some of the UK’s top clients and John Rudge and I enjoyed our first beer in Savilles tent!”

Make a donation to Jonathan's chosen charity - Over the Wall

Jonathan

World record attempt

Former Salesbury Cricket Club Captain Jason Rawson will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the “Longest Bowling Approach” this Saturday at the club’s Ribchester Road ground.

As part of a fundraising run from Blackpool of more than marathon length (27.3 miles), Jason will collect the match ball and start his bowling approach in Clayton le Dale.  After a 1.6 mile uphill run up, he will then bowl the first delivery of a pre-season practice match at Salesbury Cricket Ground, which will mark the start of a landmark season for the club (2010 will be the first season in Salesbury CC’s 104 year history that they will play in the Ribblesdale League’s top division).

The world record attempt, which is being sponsored by the Capita Symonds Blackburn office, will see Jason raising money to help club funds in Salesbury CC’s first season in the Ribblesdale Senior League.  The club has made great strides (ho ho) over recent years in developing the junior section and improving the facilities at their Ribchester Road ground – surely one of the prettiest in Lancashire.

Jason said “I had planned for a while to help do my bit to raise some funds for the club by running from Squires Gate.  When it was mentioned that it could be a Guinness World Record™ attempt it really captured the imagination of the club’s members who were already excited at the prospect of Senior League Cricket this season.  With the help of Capita we have managed to Fast Track our application for our record attempt so that I can complete the run with sufficient time to recuperate before the start of the season.  I just hope that I can make it up the final hill and that I don’t deliver a ‘no-ball’!”

Anyone wishing to help Jason on his way with sponsorship should contact Andrew Green via chairman@salesburycc.co.uk    

Jonathan Goring’s final day on the road to Cannes

Jonathan Goring is taking part in the Cycle to Cannes charity challenge, an annual six day 1500km cycling endurance event…

Eat, cycle, eat, cycle, sleep. . . That's all I've been doing for the past week.

1500km in five days, finishing today. Definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done. We started with 90 cyclists all eager to push themselves to the limit and raise over 150k for charity. About ten crazy people will do the whole thing!!!

The scenery; mountains, vineyards and countryside, has been sensational. The weather has been awesome.

Thank you everyone who has supported my charity, over The Wall. Please check out my web site . . . And remember its not too late to donate.

Regards from Aix en Provence and I'll blog from Cannes.

Thanks

Jonathan

Links:

• Watch videos from the Cycle to Cannes journey, and MIPIM on Estates Gazette's website
• See photos on Cycle to Cannes' flickr page
• Make a donation to the Over The Wall Charity

Jonathan Goring’s first day on the road to Cannes

Jonathan Goring is taking part in the Cycle to Cannes charity challenge, an annual six day 1500km cycling endurance event - “…probably the closest an amateur cyclist will get to feeling like a "pro" having full support, rolling road closures and covering up to 300km a day.”

Here’s the latest from his trip…

“Well I survived the first day, relatively unscathed. Legs . . Check . . Bottom . . Check. Short trip 100k. . . Check . . Sleep . . . Oops. It's 4 am uk time and we are off again in an hour. Calais to Dijon, 300k. . . . I hope.”

Jonathan is raising money for Over the Wall, a charity which provides respite care for sick children and their families. Make a donation

Capita Symonds at BSEC 2010 - Post 1

A brisk start to BSEC at its new home for 2010 at ExCel.

Putting aside the usual delegate complaints about travel problems getting to the Docklands venue, the first few hours have been well attended and emphasised BSEC's place as the conference/exhibition for school design, as it has been for the last few years.

Has the event lost anything in its move from Manchester Central (its 'bulging-at-the-seams' home in previous years)? The jury's still out on that one - its certainly larger but maybe that's not everything.

Highlights today include Capita Symonds' Richard Woods speaking at a live online debate today 2.30pm - Join the debate

We've put some photos on Flickr - have a look!

More photos and commentary to come over the two days.

Jonathan Goring Cycles to Cannes

Dear All

I am taking part in the Cycle to Cannes charity challenge which is an annual 6-day 1500km cycling endurance event. It is probably the closest an amateur cyclist will get to feeling like a "pro" having full support, rolling road closures and covering up to 300km a day….

My chosen charity is Over the Wall, a small but incredibly deep reaching charity which provides respite care for sick kids and their families. OTW allows sick kids or their brothers and sisters to take a well earned break from the routine of hospitals and home visits which often rules their lives; it provides a wild time for kids to be kids in one of OTW's summer camps. Last year 600 kids and families benefited and OTW's plan is to increase this year on year and make a lasting impact on the lives of the 17,000 children with serious illness in the UK.

Find out more about Over the Wall on their website

Visit my charity web page to make a donation

Find out more about Cycle2Cannes

My aim is to raise at least £3,000 so your support would be greatly appreciated.

With best wishes.

Jonathan
____________________________________

We'll hopefully be keeping you up to date with Jonathan's progress via our blog. Watch this space.

Wear Red for RedR

The Cwmbran office raised £185 at this year’s Wear Red for RedR Day.

The original concept of RedR was to create a register of carefully selected and trained engineers who could be called on at short notice to work with front-line relief agencies, either on secondment from their regular employer or as a full time aid relief worker.

The charity, which started in the UK, has evolved into an international federation of RedRs that provide a host of specialist training and recruitment services for all the major aid agencies.

For further information about Capita Symonds' involvement with RedR contact David Price

Sponsored walk for Haiti

Carwyn Davies from our Glamorgan office recently took park in a sponsored walk to raise money for Haiti.

Carwyn was part of a group of intrepid walkers who climbed Penyfan, Cribyn, Corn De and Fan y Big in the Brecon Beacons.

The climb, which took four gruelling hours in extremely foggy and cold conditions, raised over £1000 (including a £300 contribution from Capita Symonds).

Capita Symonds' Blackburn office sponsor Accrington Stanley Centre of Excellence

The next generation of Accrington Stanley football players have secured a new strip thanks to our Blackburn office. We are the first major sponsor of Accrington Stanley Centre of Excellence and are committed to supporting its Under 16’s team.


The Centre, which is currently in its third season, has already produced ten players who have graduated to the apprentice professional ranks. 


Martin King, Director at Capita Symonds said “We are keen to support the communities in which we work and were particularly excited about supporting the Centre of Excellence. The team train at Accrington Academy which is a project we are heavily involved in and it is a pleasure to know that we will also be providing training facilities which will continue to develop the team.”


Phil Hackney, Director of Youth at Accrington Stanley said “Capita is the first major sponsor of an ASFC Centre of Excellence team and this tremendous gesture will not only enable young players to receive first class coaching but also hopefully provide the ‘conveyor belt’ of players to make the professional ranks.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in the sponsorship deal and look forwards to working together in the future”

Picture shows: From back left: Ian Darlington, Philip Schofield, Duncan Clement and Martin King (all Capita Symonds); Jack Sargent (Centre of Excellence Player); and Phil Backhouse (Centre of Excellence Manager).

Front: Kian Richardson (8) Accrington Stanley Football Club supporter