Antony Batty & Company in the Community
Here at Antony Batty & Company we take our corporate social responsibility seriously, and our staff are always encouraged to do what they can for their respective communities, either as an individual, through their local ABc office or as part of the company as a whole. Our community activities are featured on this page.
22nd August 2023: Supporting the Salvation Army’s Garden Makeover in Bournemouth with the Sheltered Work Opportunities Project
A team from our Bournemouth and Salisbury offices was delighted to help out in delivering a garden makeover for the Winton Salvation Army Church and Community Centre in Bournemouth on Tuesday 22nd August, 2023. We had a great time working with them and also supporting the wonderful team from ‘Sheltered Work Opportunities Project’ Cherry Tree Nursery (SWOP) as part of our on-going programme of community and environment related support initiatives, showing our commitment to helping out in the community.
Elaine Wilkins, Business Development Manager at our Bournemouth office said:
“Charities, such as SWOP, are seeing a big increase in the number of people with mental health issues requiring help, and they do great work in that area. As a firm we have a strong Mental Health philosophy, with two of our number trained as Mental Health First Aiders.
Likewise, the Salvation Army, whose focus is on transforming lives, also has a significant role in helping Mental Health through the work it does with youth and children, families and older people, so we were delighted to help make a difference to the Mental Health of the local Community in Bournemouth by supporting both Charities and delivering a lovely garden makeover for people to enjoy.
A big thank you to everyone involved, but especially Maria Tidy from SWOP and Tina Shave, the Community Centre Manager at the Winton Salvation Army Church and Community Centre for all their hard work in making this happen.”
12th July 2023: Helping in the Community – We were delighted to help provide football kit for the Harrow Stones Stars
“From the team and me, we would like to extend a huge thank you for your donation and support.”
At Antony Batty and Company, we like to do our bit to help in the community, so when one of our team, Insolvency Administrator Tom O’Keeffe from our London office, was approached by childhood friend, Sean Derbyshire, the head coach of PAN disability football team Harrow Stones Stars about the possibility of helping them buy new football kit for the coming season, we were happy to help. Sean went on to say:
“This has been able to allow the team to have their very first independent home kit. We were able to purchase 22 Kits and Jumpers with the financial support you helped us with and our other donations.”
14th March 2023: Stephen Evans from our London Office of Insolvency Practitioners is now a Mental Health First Aider
It is well known that financial difficulties, whether for individuals or within businesses, can lead to real mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
Stephen became a Mental Health First Aider in March, 2023, joining Elaine Wilkins from our Bournemouth Office.
Stephen’s certification is through MHFA England, a social enterprise with a vision to improve the mental health of the nation. Through their training, campaigning, and reinvesting, they equip people with the skills to support their own and others’ wellbeing. They believe in zero stigma around mental health and want mental health to be openly discussed and supported.
7th February 2023: Antony Batty & Company, London – Donating £250 to help Guide Dogs South East
We couldn’t be happier that we have donated £250 to Guide Dogs South East to continue celebrating our 25th anniversary. All items were on their wish list and were much needed for the dogs.
Claire Howell, one of our partners said: “This is close to my heart as I have my own golden retriever delight (Yoshi) who was withdrawn from training, and re-homed with me.”
Guide Dogs South East said: “our Guide Dogs-in-training at Redbridge are over the moon at this donation. Thank you to Antony Batty & Company for their generous £250 donation to celebrate their 25th anniversary.”
(*Picture shows Nico playing with some of the soft toys and chew toys that donations like ours helps to buy for the dogs).
19th December 2022: Antony Batty & Company, Bournemouth – working with the local YMCA Community
The Bournemouth office of Antony Batty & Company has donated 25 homeless packages to the YMCA as part of being in business for 25 years.
In mid-May 2022, we celebrated our 25th anniversary as Licensed Insolvency Practitioners. As part of this occasion, we decided to run a programme of community related support initiatives on an office-by-office basis to demonstrate our commitment to helping out in the community.
Our most recent initiative took place on December 19th, 2022, when Hugh Jesseman and Elaine Wilkins from Antony Batty Bournemouth office were delighted to present YMCA Bournemouth with 25 Homeless Packages to help them with their work.
3rd October 2022: Antony Batty & Company, Bournemouth Helping the Community
The Bournemouth office of Antony Batty & Company has donated 25 food parcels to Christchurch Food Bank+ as part of being in business for 25 years.
In mid-May 2022, we celebrated our 25th anniversary as Licensed Insolvency Practitioners. As part of this occasion, we decided to run a programme of community related support initiatives on an office-by-office basis to demonstrate our commitment to helping out in the community.
Here, we see Elaine Wilkins, Business Development Manager at our Bournemouth office delivering the 25 food parcels for delivery to the Christchurch Food Bank+, in Dorset, on 3rd October 2022. Well done to Elaine and all the team.
2nd October 2022: John Baalham completes the London Marathon0
Congratulations to John Baalham from our Brentwood office for completing the London Marathon 2022, on Saturday 2nd October in 4 hours 17 minutes.
An awesome effort, physically, plus he also raised £2,636.00 for St Luke’s Hospice (Basildon and District).
Great work John.
7th July 2022: David Parker helps Southborough and District Lions Club (Tunbridge Wells) raise £4,000 for the local community
Guess who’s in the Lion suit???……it is David Parker, one of our Senior Managers doing a bit of fund raising at the recent Southborough and District Lions Club Gala Day and learning Taekwondo at the same time.
David reports:
“We collected in excess of £6,000, and after costs for the day etc., we made a profit of around £4,000. A great result!
These funds (and others which we hold) will be used to support my local community of Southborough in helping deserving persons (young and old) and families in need at this time. This is important more than ever, as we face increased living costs and people are struggling with day to day living.
We also make donations to larger organisations; previous beneficiaries have included: Age Concern, Hospice in the Weald, The FRED club, Scout and Guides in Southborough, Tunbridge Wells and Pembury, Kent Air Ambulance, Charles Street School, M. S. Society (Tunbridge Wells Branch), R.N.L.I., Compaid, Samaritans, C.A.B., Children’s Sunshine Centre, Pickering Cancer drop in Centre and St John Ambulance.”
Great work David and all of the Lions Club team.
10th April 2022: John Baalham completes the Brighton Marathon and raises approaching £3,000
We’re delighted to see that John and Geoff completed the Brighton Marathon on 10th April.
So far they have raised 175% of their target and are closing on £3,000 for St Luke’s Hospice (Basildon and District).
Great work both!!
If you would like to support John and Geoff you can do so at:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/john-geoff-s-brighton-marathon
April 2022: Quite a Freezing Experience! We were very happy to sponsor Lizzie Bluff, a friend of the firm, in her ‘Sleep Out at Guildhall Yard’ to help raise funds for Charities supporting the homeless in London.
On 31st March 2022, Lizzie took part in the ‘Sleep Out at Guildhall Yard’ in the City of London, organised by the Lady Mayoress, as part of The Lord Mayor’s Appeal.
After basking in an early Spring heatwave, Lizzie, along with almost 100 others slept out, in what proved to be a bitterly cold night, to help raise awareness of homelessness in London and funds for the Spitalfields Crypt Trust.
March 2022: John Baalham is running the Brighton Marathon on 10th April for St Luke’s Hospice (Basildon and District)
One of our team, John Baalham (based at our Brentwood office) signed up to run the 2020 Brighton Marathon, and is now finally getting the chance to claim his Brighton finisher’s medal on April 10th 2022, when the event finally takes place, post Covid.
He is raising funds for St Luke’s Hospice (Basildon and District), who looked after his brother Chris so well over 18 years ago. Very sadly, Chris passed away after being diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer.
As John says:
“Myself and Geoff are honoured to be flying the Hospice flag on the 10th April and we will be wearing our t-shirts with pride.”
If you would like to support John and Geoff as they complete their Brighton Marathon on Sunday 10th April 2022 you can do so at:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/john-geoff-s-brighton-marathon
December 2021: David Parker – Santa for the Southborough and District Lions Club (Tunbridge Wells)
David Parker, one of our Senior Insolvency Managers and Head of Case Progression, has been busy, again, in his role as a member of his local Lions Club (Southborough and District Lions, Tunbridge Wells).
He started off as Santa in his Grotto, before switching on the local Christmas lights with the Mayor and then collecting for charity throughout the town.
All Money raised from their Christmas fundraising goes towards the Christmas hampers.
Next on his list was preparing the Christmas hampers for distribution in the local community, focusing on the elderly and those in need.
Great work David and thank you to you and your fellow Lions’ members.
October 2021: Land’s End to John O’Groats completed. Now we’re well on the way to Iceland! £1,670 raised for MIND
We’re delighted to announce that our teams smashed their target of walking virtually from Lands End to John O’Groats in September.
So much so that the total completed distance took us well on the way to Iceland! Best of all is that we raised £1,670 for MIND, who do so much great work in providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They also campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
The picture shows David Parker from our London office, who actually went to Land’s End to complete the last few miles. Great work David. Great work everyone.
August 2021: Walking to raise funds for MIND
The Team from Insolvency Practitioners Antony Batty & Company are Walking Virtually from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise awareness for Mental Health
During the month of September this year, team members from our offices have set themselves the challenge to virtually walk the distance from Lands End to John O’Groats and raise funds for the mental health charity MIND. That’s an impressive distance of 874 miles. Our target is to raise £500, but we hope to significantly exceed that amount, and will be posting updates on LinkedIn and Twitter along the way. Click here to read the full story.
Our team are pleased to be raising funds for, and supporting the work of, “MIND”. Right now, their work is more important than ever as people are having to cope with the anxiety and stress that the pandemic has brought to so many people’s lives.
Any amount you can give will spur our team on and will help to make a difference to the work of Mind.
May 2021: Marc Evans – Food Waste Hero – does his bit to reduce food waste
Food waste is a massive problem in the UK, where it is estimated that 6.7 million tonnes of food is wasted year on year, which equates to a value of £10.2 billion each year. This represents a cost of £250-£400 per household per year.
Marc Evans from our London office has decided to help to try and do something about it, by volunteering as an Olio Food Waste Hero. This involves going to collect any food his local Tesco hasn’t sold to avoid it being thrown away on a weekly basis. He then brings it back to the office or adds it to the Olio App for general consumption within the wider community rather than it going in the bin.
Well done Marc.
March 2021: Clive Fortis and Elaine Wilkins donating 100 Easter Eggs to YMCA Bournemouth
Here at Antony Batty & Company, we always aim to live by our 3 key values of integrity, professionalism and good customer service. These values apply to our work as insolvency practitioners and business turnaround experts as well as to our wider work in the community.
Recently, Clive Fortis (director and the head of Antony Batty Bournemouth office) and Elaine Wilkins were delighted to donate 100 Easter Eggs to the YMCA branch in Bournemouth, as part of our commitment to helping out in the community.
Sheena Dayman, Events Manager at YMCA Bournemouth said:
“This small act of kindness will be greatly appreciated by many. It really helps to show that those that think the world has forgotten them that – it has not. Thank you to all at Anthony Batty & Co.”
March 2021: David Parker – Southborough and District Lions Club (Tunbridge Wells)
David Parker, one of our Senior Insolvency Managers and Head of Case Progression, has just been accepted, along with his partner, as a member of his local Lions Club (Southborough and District Lions).
A Lions Club is a local branch of Lions clubs International, which is a World Wide community service organisation with around 1.3 million members in 42,000 clubs, operating in 205 countries in all geographical locations. The first Lions Club was formed in Chicago in 1917. Lions came to Britain in 1949, and there are now about 900 clubs here, with a total membership of over 21,000.
Southborough was formed in 1981 as an offshoot of Tunbridge Wells Lions Club. The area covered by the club includes Tunbridge Wells, Pembury, High Brooms, Bidborough, Speldhurst and, of course, Southborough. Lions clubs are formed by community minded individuals to help the less fortunate members of a community
Beneficiaries have included: Age Concern, Hospice in the Weald, The FRED club, Scout and Guides in Southborough, Tunbridge Wells and Pembury, Kent Air Ambulance, Charles Street School, M. S. Society (Tunbridge Wells Branch) R.N.L.I. Compaid, Samaritans, Pepenbury, C.A.B. Children’s Sunshine Centre Pickering Cancer drop in Centre, St John Ambulance and many other deserving individuals and groups in the local area.
February 2021: Easter Egg Delivery to Encircles by Clive Fortis
In his day job, Clive Fortis is one of our directors. He heads up our Bournemouth, Salisbury and South West & Wales offices and helps financially distressed businesses and individuals at times of financial hardship. Recently, Clive has chosen to support Encircles, a homeless, loneliness, isolation and poverty alleviation charity based in Salisbury.
Here, Clive can be seen about to deliver a donation of 100 Easter eggs to Encircle, as part of their mission to: “Help our homeless friends by feeding them and helping them find accommodation, as well as being a friendly face and providing a willing ear.”
February 2021: Elaine Wilkins’ Mental Health First Aider Training
Mental Health has never been more important, not least because of the spotlight that the stresses and strains caused by the Covid-19 lockdowns have caused at work and at home.
Elaine, who is based at our Bournemouth Office, is currently undergoing her Mental Health First Aider training, organised by the Ouch Training Team from Wimborne in Dorset. There are 4 training sessions with a total of 17 hours of learning, which will help attenders understand about mental health, what the signs are what the risks are and, most importantly, what to do about it.
Elaine is due to complete the course on 8th March, and will focus on helping those clients facing bankruptcy cope with the mental stress and strain.
October 2020: Wear it Pink: We raised £515 for Breast Cancer Now!
Staff at all of our offices took part in ‘Wear it Pink’ on Friday 23rd October 2020 in support of the wonderful work that Breast Cancer Now does in raising funds to invest in Breast Cancer research (nearly £250 million to date) and for providing care to those suffering with it.
We are absolutely delighted to report that we raised a total of £515 for the campaign, and as our certificate says: “You wore it pink, and now you’re helping to create a better future for everyone affected by Breast Cancer.” Click here for the full story.