Health and Safety manager at Compass Group UK & Ireland named Corporate Charity Champion of the Year

Health and Safety manager at Compass Group UK & Ireland named Corporate Charity Champion of the Year

A keen fundraiser from York, Jo Jackson, has been recognised as Cancer Research UK’s Corporate Charity Champion of the Year, after supporting her employer, Compass Group UK & Ireland - the UK’s largest food services company - to raise a staggering £140,489. Jo beat 500 nominees to be awarded the accolade.

Jo, who previously worked for the Instore business at Compass and currently works as a Health and Safety manager for Compass’ Education business Chartwells, started raising funds and awareness around cancer after her friend died of cancer 14 years ago. She has now been awarded with Cancer Research UK’s Corporate Charity Champion Flame of Hope Award.

Jo became a charity champion for Compass in 2011 and has since been fundraising up and down the country for the business’ corporate charity partner, Cancer Research UK. Compass has contributed an amazing £1.85m in total since their partnership with the charity began.

This year, Jo also helped organise activities across 200 sites to raise funds for Magical May, a Compass wide initiative which encourages each of its units to raise £100 for Cancer Research UK. She has also recently been awarded a “Be a Star” Award, an internal Compass awards scheme which recognises outstanding employees.

Jo said: “I feel extremely humbled to have won such a great award and to be recognised for the charity work we have completed over the past few years. I am extremely proud of everything our teams have achieved to help fuel the research. Our units have done an amazing job since 2011 fundraising for Cancer Research UK. We have seen great successes with change goblets and donation stations where customers and colleagues can donate money, toys and clothes.”

Zoe Dean from Cancer Research UK said: “We were delighted to name Jo Jackson as the 2016 Corporate Charity Champion of the Year. Jo has been pivotal in leading and influencing teams from across Compass Group UK & Ireland to fundraise for Cancer Research UK. Her enthusiasm and networking skills have helped raise thousands of pounds to help us beat cancer sooner.”