Rolls Royce announce their new house charity as Sophie's Legacy
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to announce that its new House Charity for 2023 is Sophie's Legacy, founded by Gareth and Charlotte Fairall in memory of their daughter Sophie, a remarkable young girl who touched many lives.
Staff at the Home of Rolls-Royce name Sophie's Legacy as their 2023 House Charity
Nominated and voted for by colleagues across the business
Staff will plan and run fundraising activities throughout the coming year
Continues an unbroken 20-year tradition of supporting good causes that began when the Home of Rolls-Royce first opened in 2003
“We're delighted that Sophie's Legacy will be our House Charity for 2023. In founding this amazing organisation in their daughter's memory, Gareth and Charlotte Fairall have shown incredible courage, and are making a real difference to other families' experience. Our team, who chose Sophie's Legacy through a process we've followed since our earliest days, will be raising funds throughout the coming year to support this wonderful and really important work.”
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to announce that its new House Charity for 2023 is Sophie's Legacy, founded by Gareth and Charlotte Fairall in memory of their daughter Sophie, a remarkable young girl who touched many lives.
Sophie died from cancer in September 2021, aged just 10. During her illness, she compiled a list of changes she wanted to see in hospitals. As a result, the charity's central missions are: availability of play specialists seven days a week; improvements to children's food; meals for parents when staying with their child; specific training in childhood cancer for GPs, nurses and other health professionals; and increased funding for childhood cancer research.
The new House Charity was chosen through a well-established process, entirely independent of senior management, in which staff at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood nominate good causes close to their hearts, with a final shortlist being put to a vote. Staff then organise and run fundraising events throughout the year, consistently raising sums that have a significant impact on what are often small organisations serving the local community.
Charlotte Fairall said, “We would like to thank Rolls-Royce for choosing Sophie's Legacy as their charity for the year. Sophie wanted to improve families’ experiences in hospital along with campaigning for national change. We are seeing a steep increase in referrals for families struggling in hospital with their children and having the support from Rolls-Royce means we can continue to help those in need. We look forward to working with them in the forthcoming year.”
During 2022, Rolls-Royce staff raised money for Snowdrop Trust, culminating in the largest single donation in the charity’s history. Snowdrop provides nursing care at home for local children with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. Based in the Chichester area, it also offers emotional and financial help for families coping with the day-to-day problems of caring for children with serious conditions.
