Comms Supply launches #Bid for the Box to raise money for The Benjamin Foundation

Norwich-based business telecoms company, Comms Supply, has launched ‘Bid for the Box’: a chance for businesses to take part in an email auction to win the use of a corporate box at Norwich City Football Club for the match on 18 January 2014, when Norwich faces Hull.

Former Norwich City player, and professional boxer, Leon McKenzie will be the winning bidder’s special guest in the box: making it a truly unique prize. All proceeds from the auction – which is open until 4 December – will go to Norfolk charity The Benjamin Foundation.

The ‘Bid for the Box’ auction is the first event in a year-long charity partnership between Comms Supply and The Benjamin Foundation. The EDP Future50 company has pledged to raise at least £5,000 for the charity over the next 12 months, to support its work with children, young people and families.

Recently shortlisted in the EDP Business Awards One to Watch category, Comms Supply launched in early 2012, providing customers across East Anglia – and beyond – with a range of business telecoms services: from basic phone or broadband line rental to complete systems.

Karl Alderton, the managing director of Comms Supply, explained the thinking behind the company’s new relationship with The Benjamin Foundation. “When I launched Comms Supply almost two years ago, I knew I wanted to ensure that we contributed to our community wherever possible. Our team has taken part in various fundraising and community-focused activities over the last 18 months but we’ve now decided to take a more focused approach.

“The whole team sat down together to talk about what type of charity we would like to support and we all wanted to focus on children and young people. When we started to find out more about The Benjamin Foundation, on some level we could all identify with the work it does,” explains Karl.

Whilst The Benjamin Foundation provides a wide range of services across Norfolk, from homeless hostels for young people to affordable childcare, Comms Supply is particularly keen to support the Time4You service. Trained Benjamin Foundation support workers spend one on one time with children and teenagers in schools across the county.

“The Foundation helps young people make sense of really difficult situations and experiences; things like family break-up, bullying or abuse,” continues Karl. “With the support, care and kindness of the charity these young people are able to see a future and begin to be happy again. The average age of the Comms Supply team is only 25 so we can all remember how tough life can be when you’re experiencing hard times as a child: you feel you have no control and don’t really understand why things aren’t right. The Benjamin Foundation works hard to provide every single one of the people who use its services with hope, opportunity, stability and independence and we’re really committed to helping them.”

Over the next year the ten-strong team at Comms Supply will be embarking on a range of fundraising activities: from running marathons to baking cakes.

“We have purchased a corporate box at Norwich City Football club for the rest of this season,” continues Karl Alderton. “We’ll be auctioning this off for the Norwich v Hull game which takes place on 18th January and all the proceeds will go to The Benjamin Foundation. Local businesses, organisations or even groups of friends will be able to bid for the right to take over the box, which has space for 10 guests, and we’ll provide a hot buffet and generous bar tab. This package is worth at least £1300, but what makes it even more special is that Norwich City legend Leon McKenzie will join the party for the match.”

The Benjamin Foundation was founded after the tragic death of Ben Draper who was just 17. His parents, Richard and Vanessa Draper, wanted to celebrate his life in a way that would help other young people.

Richard Draper, founder and chief executive of The Benjamin Foundation, said; “We are so grateful that the team at Comms Supply have selected The Benjamin Foundation as their first ever charity of the year. As a young entrepreneur Karl has achieved a huge amount in the past two years through hard work, determination and tenacity: I know that many of the young people who use our services will find him a real inspiration.”

The online auction for use of the Comms Supply corporate box at Norwich City on 18th January 2014 will open at 8am on Wednesday 20 November 2013 and close at 8pm on Wednesday 4 December 2013. Comms Supply will be asking for bids to start at £400. Full details of the package and auction process can be found at www.commssupply.co.uk.

If you would like to get involved with the Comms Supply’s year of fundraising for The Benjamin Foundation, please visit www.commsupply.co.uk for more information or call Karl Alderton on 0333 2020 900.

For more information about The Benjamin Foundation visit www.benjaminfoundation.co.uk.