His Master’s Voice: Help us support more people this Christmas

Christmas is almost upon us and while Santa may struggle with social distancing and stroppy reindeers, I’m sure you are all planning to make the best of it you can.

The Southern Committee’s Christmas Raffle could help you have an even better festive season. With a £500 One4All gift card as first prize and a host of other goodies to be won, who could resist buying at least one ticket for £1? All the proceeds go to the charity, thanks to the generosity of the committee members who funded the prizes.

It’s open to all so please support it by texting FMCWIN to 70201 and get family and friends to help us raise money for our charitable work, so we can help more people from our industry, like Jimmy.

A dream opportunity to purchase a home became a nightmare for Jimmy and his wife when they were both made redundant from their jobs a couple of months after the sale of the house had gone through.

Jimmy worked as a machine operator at Cardinal, a designer and manufacturer of retail and commercial interiors, for three years.

Prior to COVID-19, the couple’s landlord approached them about buying the rented flat they were living in as he wished to sell up. After going through the usual house buying process, he and his wife bought their home – usually an event that evokes feelings of jubilation – but then the pandemic struck, and lockdown happened.

Bradford-based Cardinal went into administration mid-July. Jimmy was one of 135 people made redundant following the company’s collapse. Tragically Jimmy’s wife also lost her job around the same time, compounding their financial woes. Both adults found themselves with no income, two children to support and their first mortgage payment due.

Jimmy was advised by Cardinal’s insolvency practitioner of the help The Furniture Makers’ Company provides workers in the trade, and his wife helped him apply by email.

The couple’s application was processed within a day and they were awarded a grant, initially for two months, with the opportunity to extend it by a further two months if required.

We want to help more people like Jimmy, so please carry on spreading the message that we are here for everyone in our industry who is in need of help and recommend companies to sign up as One Step Champions!

For more information about the Southern Region Christmas Raffle including the full terms and conditions, go to www.furnituremakers.org.uk/events/christmas-raffle-2020/