Bath-based specialist early years higher education provider Norland has collaborated with fashion house Holland Cooper to support local early years charity First Steps Bath.
The two organisations have together donated 20% of the proceeds from the sale of the Holland Cooper Hudson Changing Bag to the Bath-based charity to support its free meals project for local disadvantaged children.
The charitable partnership evolved from a recent collaboration to create a bespoke baby changing bag for Norland’s world-famous graduate nannies. The custom-made adaptation of the celebrated Holland Cooper Hudson bag was commissioned by the Norland Agency as an exclusive gift for Norland Nannies who are successfully placed in new roles or who have excelled in their agency-provided position and are nominated by an agency consultant.
Norland, which matched-funded Holland Cooper’s donation through The Norland Foundation, has supported First Steps Bath for several years. Principal Dr Janet Rose is also a trustee of the charity.
First Steps provides early years education and childcare and specialist care in Bath, working alongside children and families to raise learning and development outcomes and enhance communities. Norland students frequently support this work through placements.
The donation will support the First Steps free meals project which ensures that children whose families are managing on low incomes have a hot nutritious meal every day, putting them in the best position to benefit from the opportunities to learn and develop in their community nursery.
Dr Janet Rose said, “We were delighted when Holland Cooper kindly offered to donate a percentage of their sales to support a local charity that Norland has worked closely with for many years. Norland has an active community and charitable engagement programme, and our staff, students and graduates regularly volunteer and fundraise for national and local charities and community groups.
“First Steps Bath provides vital support and specialist services to families and children in our local community who are at risk of being disadvantaged. As an organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families, we are honoured to support the charity’s work.”
Roz Lambert, Chief Executive of First Steps Bath, said, “Thank you so much to everyone involved. These donations make such a difference, particularly at this time of crisis with family budgets tightening. It is especially heartening that Norland, a local enterprise, supports First Steps working alongside other businesses.
“Sadly, pockets of deprivation still exist within the communities in which First Steps operates. Two areas in Bath are among the most deprived 10% of England, and a further two are in the most deprived 20%.”
While the Norland bag is only available to Norland Nannies through the agency, the original Hudson Changing Bag can be purchased directly from Holland Cooper at www.hollandcooper.com.
Community and charitable engagement are strategic priorities for Norland, which is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families. Students run an active charity committee, supported by staff Charity Coordinators, and participate in local and national fundraising efforts. They volunteer alongside staff to provide crèche facilities to local community groups, for parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), a multiple births family group, an LGBTQIA+ parent and child group, and a baby book club.
Norland works closely with the Twins Trust, partnering on its Family Crisis Support scheme – an award-winning practical home-based support service for families in severe need. Norlanders have volunteered over 3,500 hours of specialist support to families in crisis through the service.