Leeds-based logistics firm raises £30k for homelessness charity

Leeds-based logistics services provider Torque has raised almost £30,000 for Yorkshire homelessness charity, Simon on the Streets as its charity partner of the year for 2019-2020.

Torque, which employs more than 1200 people across its seven sites in Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Castleford, and Heathrow, has supported the charity in its fundraising efforts over 12 months.

West-Yorkshire charity, Simon on the Streets, which was voted Torque’s charity partner by its employees, is an outreach-based organisation, helping rough sleepers in Leeds, Bradford and Kirklees.

The charity focusses on providing practical and emotional support to individuals that cannot access mainstream services. The charity does not receive any public funding and so relies on the generous donations from its corporate partners.

Founded in 1991, Torque provides supply chain services to high profile customers, including Sweaty Betty, Arsenal Football Club, Zoggs, I Saw It First and many more. Having grown quickly since its modest beginnings in Bramley almost 30 years ago, Torque remains successful due to its continuous investment in technology, new sites, its workforce, and innovation.

Head of Marketing at Torque, Rebecca Jacobs commented: “Torque takes supporting our local community very seriously and each year staff are asked to nominate local charities close to their hearts. It was almost a unanimous vote in selecting Simon on the Streets as our charity partner for 2019-2020.

“To have raised almost £30,000, our highest ever amount for charity,is an incredible achievement which wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our employees and customers who have got involved in a variety of fundraising activities from bake sales, football tournaments and comic con dress up days.”

Team members of Torque also participated in the charity’s largest fundraising event, the annual sleep out last September.

Fahad Khan, development manager at Simon on the Streets added: “We’re absolutely thrilled that the Torque team has raised such a fantastic amount for us over the past year. As a small charity with a big job to do to combat homelessness, Torque’s support will go a long way in helping us.

“The rough sleepers we work with usually have complex needs, which means they are unable to accept mainstream support from other services that are available. Simon on the Streets works with individuals long-term, offering emotional and practical support for as long as people need it.”