This is the lead article from our September Newsletter.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

"CCP are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mr Tony Martin of Zurich Community Trust (ZCT) following major lung surgery at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.  Tony was a staunch supporter of CCP and one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet.
 
Zurich have been supporting CCP since June 2001, where we launched into our epic journey outside the Eagle Tower in Cheltenham ...... That was 16 years ago and Tony has been with us every step of the way.
 
CCP were initially chosen as a major grant beneficiary, together with the James Hopkins Trust and Winston's Wish.
 
Thereafter we worked alongside Tony and the teams at Zurich on a varied range of challenge and skills exchanges, greatly benefitting our charity, but also the people of ZCT and Zurich. Some of the more notable events have been: 

• 100+ Moving In and Moving On boxes for our homeless young people coming into and leaving our accommodation
• Baby Boxes for new mums with little or no money bringing home babies, often for the first time
  Garden makeovers galore, including a raised vegetable plot at the rear of 33 St Pauls Street North and our allotments
• Room makeovers too numerous to mention
• ID badges for all staff (in the early 2000’s)
• Leaflet design and production
• Use of the facilities at the Grange, on so many occasions, including use of the board room with lunch for our early Away Days
• Office equipment to modernise our ageing charity furniture
• Use of the Zurich Listening Ear facility, which is a confidential advice line for our employees and for HR issues
• Funding towards the CCP Youth facilities and trips out
• Management support
• And the almost famous Hamper Scamper, which provides toys and food hampers for children, their families and homeless young people who are all on the bread line and cannot afford the luxuries most take for granted

Tony was instrumental in the development of Hamper Scamper, which now reaches many thousands of vulnerable children, young people and families every year.  Not only do our service users benefit, but so do those of around 50 other charities and causes. This is a fantastic legacy, fitting of such a kind and generous individual such as Tony.
 
Tony leaves a huge hole in our lives and will be missed by many hundreds of people whose lives he touched, especially in the charity and community sector.
 
Perhaps most poignant will be Hamper Scamper 2017, where we will greatly miss Tony, the Christmas Elf, helping Mr Christmas bring a little festive cheer to all those who need it.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with all his family and friends at this time."
 
Cordell Ray, Chief Executive Officer