Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd. (RSS) coordinated delivery of hundreds of presents for last year’s Cash for Kids Mission Christmas campaign, which aimed to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
RSS — the company is a nationwide (UK) provider of material handling products and training, in addition to digitalization and compliance technology — set-up a Cash for Kids drop-off area at its Rotherham depot. The donations contributed to the South Yorkshire and Derbyshire Cash for Kids Mission Christmas campaign that raised £671,200, which meant nearly 17,000 children woke up to a visit from Santa.
The company’s participation was the brainchild of Paul Roberts, site engineer, who is based at the Rotherham facility. Dedicating hours of his personal time to the cause, Roberts was able to garner support from colleagues, customers, suppliers and other industry stakeholders. Gifts soon started stacking up, as the RSS community rallied in support.
Roberts said: “This amazing achievement was the result of a rapid two-week turnaround time from agreeing to participate and was only achieved because of the support from many of our wonderful customers and suppliers.
“Last year was by far the toughest year the charity had ever seen. Even the week before the campaign finished they had to make several heartbreaking phone calls to organizations to say they may not be able to help as they had not received enough donations. A concerted effort from backers like RSS and notable gift wholesalers, and Cash for Kids were able to honor its commitment and literally save Christmas.”
Recipient families were incredibly grateful. Several had already shared that they had no funds for decorations, a tree, or presents. Being able to give their children a gift meant a lot to them. One parent said: “The gifts put a smile on his face.” Another added: “Thank you so much, you have saved my Christmas; I cannot thank you enough.”
Cash for Kids is unique in that the money raised locally, stays locally. Furthermore, it operates a high contribution rate: a minimum of 80p in every £1 donated is granted out to children and families in need. They can offer this because of their exceptionally lean running costs. Locally in Sheffield, they are operating on around a 92% contribution rate.
This year is predicted to be equally challenging for the charity, which continuously runs funding campaigns. Leanne Whitehurst-Maiden, national digitalization manager; and Stephen Littler, regional manager at RSS, will support The Big Hike Challenge at Kinder Scout, a grueling 16km walk, conquering steep inclines, including a 2,100-feet high point — all in under seven hours. RSS will also continue its support for the 2026 Cash for Kids Mission Christmas.
RSS supplies blocks, shackles, hooks, slings, harnesses, and other rigging gear — all covered by periodic Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) examinations — to some of the UK’s most notable large-scale infrastructure projects and blue chip firms.
For more information or to pledge support, contact Leanne Whitehurst-Maiden leanne.whitehurst@rssgroup.co.uk