Leyland SDM donates £3,500 to London’s poorest childern

Leyland SDM, which has 33 stores across the capital, has donated £3,500 to The Childhood Trust.

The donation has been added to the £6,600 colleagues raised by walking 15 miles across London towards the end of last year, taking the overall total beyond £10,000.

Martin Hastings, CEO at Leyland SDM, said: “Our colleagues managed to raise a fantastic amount by trekking across London on a cold winter’s day and, as a company, we’re very pleased to contribute as well to boost the total.

“We are passionate about London with all of our stores, as well as the overwhelming majority of our people, based in the city.

“We delighted to help good causes in London whenever we can and the Childhood Trust does very valuable work.”

Leyland SDM colleagues walked for seven hours from Mile End to Kingston upon Thames to raise the money.

They passed through Westminster, Chelsea and Fulham before crossing The Thames at Putney Bridge and progressing through Richmond Park, finishing at Leyland SDM’s most southern store in Kingston.

The Childhood Trust is committed to breaking the poverty cycle and has engaged with more than 250,000 disadvantaged children in London, delivering almost 200 projects.

Recent research found that the equivalent of 40% of London children are regularly missing meals and going hungry due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Laurence Guinness, Chief Executive of The Childhood Trust, said: “Poverty can have devastating effects on children’s health and development.

“With growing numbers of children falling into poverty, we must do all we can to provide support. A huge thanks to the team at Leyland SDM for supporting us so generously.”