Cosy Direct to honour city charity Derby Kids Camp with specially-decorated Ram sculpture which will form part of Derby Rams Trail exhibition
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 11 March 2021
UPDATED: 11 March 2021
A DERBYSHIRE business which supplies responsibly-sourced equipment to schools and nurseries will honour the city charity of which it is a proud patron when the Derby Ram Trail exhibition opens later this year.
Cosy Direct, which moved from Siddals Road, Derby at the end of 2020 into a 45,000-square foot, specially-adapted building in the county, has been involved with Derby Kids Camp for several years.
Cosy, which celebrates its 10th year in 2021 and is planning 10 community-based initiatives to celebrate, is one of 30 businesses who are sponsoring the Derby Ram Trail, which will lead people across the city following five-foot sculptures which have been designed and painted by different artists.
And, to celebrate almost 50 years of Derby Kids Camp, Cosy are asking those who have been involved with the charity to submit pictures of themselves in fancy dress, standing in front of the Ram sculpture, to their social media channels. They will then create an archive of the submitted pictures – and offer a prize for the most creative photograph.
Peter Ellse, CEO of Cosy, said:
“Cosy celebrates its 10^th anniversary in 2021 and we have lots of exciting, community-based initiatives planned.
“We are long-time supporters of Derby Kids Camp; I volunteered there many years ago, and thousands of Derby families have benefitted from their summer camps over the last 47 years.
“We purchased the land on which the Kids Camp is held every year, using £500,000 from our Cosy Fund - the charitable fund which my wife, Amanda and I set up in 2002 to support small charities and voluntary organisations, such as Derby Kids Camp – and have bought mattresses to be used on site, a mini bus and board games for the children – and adults – to enjoy over the years.
“The idea to get Kids Camp volunteers and visitors past and present to take pictures of themselves in front of the Cosy Ram is a great way to raise awareness of the good work which they do.
“We are thrilled to be involved in the Derby Rams Trail and love how our chosen artist, Lynne Hollinghshurst, has decorated it; it fits perfectly with the Cosy-ethos.”
Volunteer-led Derby Kids Camp provides much-needed free holidays in the Peak District to more than 300 disadvantaged young children in the city every year. The camps run for five weeks over the school holidays, with each week being attended by a team of around 33 volunteers and up to 70 local children.
However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, their 2020 event was cancelled and this year’s summer camp has been postponed, too.
“We work with 45 primary schools across Derby and Derbyshire, offering between six and 10 places to children who need a break every year,” said Chris Edwards, chairman of Derby Kids Camp.
“We ask teachers at these schools to nominate those who deserve the holiday the most but, sadly, we had to cancel 2020’s trip and the week-long break this summer is also cancelled. We are hoping, though – fingers crossed – to be able to offer short breaks later in the year and we’re determined that the 2022 break WILL go ahead!”
Chris praised the work of Peter and his team at Cosy and is particularly grateful for the donation from the Cosy Fund which enabled them to remain at the camp venue which holds so many memories forever.
“We rely 100 per cent on volunteers and donations from business to survive,” added Chris, “so when the farmer who we were renting land from to hold Derby Kids Camp sadly passed away in 2016, we were worried for its future.
“Peter and his wife Amanda kindly donated £500,000 from their Cosy Fund so that we could purchase the land from his family. They have also, in the past, bought us a mini bus to get the children to Kids Camp, and essential items such as mattresses, so we’re extremely grateful for their support.”
The Derby Rams Trail, backed by Derby Museum, will take place between May 27 and August 22.
Cosy has commissioned award-winning artist Lynne Hollingsworth, from Duffield, to paint its sculpture for the summer trail, which will sit outside the city’s Primark store.
Lynne, who has exhibited for members of the Royal Family, has also teamed up with end-of-life-care charity Treetops Hospice Care to work on their Ram sculpture.
The Rams will be auctioned off at the end of the project to raise money for Derby Museums’ Endowment, supporting Derby's heritage.Every pound raised will be doubled by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
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