Giving back, lifting up: how our teams are supporting communities this Christmas
At Fortus, supporting our communities isn’t something we do once a year – it’s part of who we are. But every Christmas, our teams go a step further, rallying behind local organisations that work tirelessly to support families through what can be an incredibly difficult time.
This year, from York to Scarborough, that spirit of generosity has been stronger than ever. And with the added support of the Fortus Foundation, we’ve been able to deepen our impact in ways that truly matter.
Spreading joy with Selby Hands of Hope
For the fourth year running, our York office has proudly supported Selby Hands of Hope with their Christmas gift appeal – a charity dedicated to ensuring children and families in need don’t wake up to an empty space beneath the tree.
Each year, the charity receives lists from schools highlighting families who are struggling, and sadly the number of requests continues to rise with the ongoing cost-of-living pressures. Determined to help meet that growing need, our York team set out to make this year’s contribution their biggest yet.
From gifts for teens, to toys for younger children, to the little treasures kids can give to their parents, colleagues across the office have been busy collecting brand-new presents – small gestures that can make a big difference to a family’s Christmas morning.
And we’re so proud to have our own Fortus Foundation to be able to amplify the efforts of our staff, enabling us to go further and support even more families across the region. We’re incredibly grateful for the work Selby Hands of Hope does all year round, and proud to play even a small part in helping them deliver some much-needed joy.
Supporting essential services at Westway Open Arms
Our Scarborough team, supported once again by the Fortus Foundation, rallied together to help Westway Open Arms - a remarkable community organisation in Eastfield that provides food bank services, crisis care, debt advice, cooking support, and a warm, safe space for anyone in need.
With demand for food banks rising in the lead-up to Christmas, our team gathered donations ranging from cupboard staples to festive treats – the kinds of items that help ensure no one in the community is left without the basics, or the comfort, of a Christmas meal.
We couldn’t be more thankful for the generosity of our Scarborough colleagues or for the everyday impact Westway Open Arms has on local families.
Why community work matters to us
Across our business, these initiatives are far more than seasonal acts of goodwill. Through both our people and the Fortus Foundation, we spend a great deal of time working alongside charities, grassroots groups, and not-for-profit organisations.
Seeing the realities they face – the rising demand, the resilience required, the difference that timely support can make – gives us a deeper understanding of the pressures shaping the sector. And that insight naturally influences the way we support the charities and not-for-profits we work with professionally.
It reminds us that behind every organisation is a community, every challenge has a human story, and every piece of support, no matter how small, has the power to create meaningful change.
A heartfelt thank you to Selby Hands of Hope, Westway Open Arms, and to every member of our York and Scarborough teams who contributed this year.
We’re proud of the difference we can make together – at Christmas, and all year round.
