Manchester digital signage company raises £10,000 for small charity

Manchester-based digital signage consultancy, Saturn Visual Solutions, has raised £10,000 for charity with a 26-mile walk from Merseyside to Manchester.

Eighteen of the company’s staff walked from St Helens Rugby League Club to Old Trafford FC in Manchester to raise money for its charity partner Better Things, a small charity that helps people with learning disabilities. Some staff and representatives from Better Things also completed the walk.

The Manchester-based charity is run by a handful of part-time staff and volunteers and provides free or heavily subsidised activity sessions for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to help them feel less isolated and generally improve their quality of life.

Chris Welsh, CEO at Saturn Visual Solutions, who organised and participated in the walk, said: “Having volunteered with Better Things, I’ve witnessed first-hand the transformative impact of the activities they provide. They combat isolation, empower individuals, and foster confidence and skills in a nurturing environment.

“Our goal with the walk was to raise £5000 to help Better Things expand their capacity to offer more life-changing sessions, and I’m thrilled to say we’ve managed to double that. I want to thank all of the friends, family, clients and last, but certainly not least, our industry suppliers that sponsored us.”

Kate Maggs, CEO of Better Things said: “People with learning disabilities are twice as likely than the average person to be victims of bullying, and of verbal abuse and physical attacks from complete strangers. They are more likely to be discriminated against, and after leaving education most struggle to find employment and become isolated.

“We help people with learning disabilities to make friends and develop confidence through the activity sessions we run. We provide mental health support and help those who’ve suffered abuse through talking groups and individual support. The money that Saturn has raised will be a huge boost for us to be able to help more people and we’re all incredibly grateful for their efforts.”

A group of the charity’s service users came to support the Saturn and Better Things teams during the walk, cheering them on for the last mile of it.