Hula hooping, aerial yoga and making floral arrangements are among the ways staff at a consultancy firm are raising money for charity.
Strategi Solutions, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, is hoping to raise £5,000 for Alzheimer’s Society this year due to a number of team members experiencing a loved one living with dementia and the effects it has.
The company’s Founder and Chair Wendy Dean and Head of Account Management Michaela Tabbinor, who are both Level 2 trained florists, have set up an initiative called WOW Flowers.
They will give their time free of charge to create floral arrangements for businesses, charities or members of the public hosting events at cost price, with donations to the charity invited in return for their time.
A series of events such as wreath making workshops – with a donation to Alzheimer’s Society included in the ticket price – are also being staged.
Strategi Solutions recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and laid down a challenge for each staff member to raise money for the charity.
Activities included:
- Wendy created 10 floral arrangements and asked for nominations of people who deserved a treat, then invited winners to Strategi to collect their flowers.
- CEO Rob Fisher tackled hula hooping for four minutes, the equivalent of hooping to one of Strategi’s partner businesses, Stellified.
- Michaela rowed 41 miles, the distance from Strategi’s head office to client BOYCO in Stockport.
- HR Services Manager Megan Oliver baked something new every week for 10 weeks.
- Finance Manager Jane Oliver completed an ariel yoga session.
- Designer Dave Clowes cycled 176 miles, the equivalent of cycling from Strategi’s head office to client C&D.
- Social Media and Content Executive Sarah Brunt swam 19 miles, the distance from Newcastle the Alton Towers, another of the company’s clients.
- Head of Marketing Jess Oliver ran and walked 146 miles, the distance from Strategi’s head office to client CFL based in Heathrow.
- Studio Manager and Senior Designer Antony Goddard grew his hair for 10 weeks.
The team has raised just over £200 so far.
A donation to Alzheimer’s Society is also included in the ticket prices of all events being staged by new women’s group Inher Circle.
Strategi Solutions Since 2015, the business has supported nine annual charities since 2015, raising over £77,000 for Dougie Mac, North Staffs MIND, North Staffs Symmetrical, UHNM Charity, Alice Charity, Approach Dementia Support and more.
Rob said: “We are incredibly proud of the charitable work our team has achieved over the years, raising a considerable amount for causes that mean a lot to us. For 2025, we are honoured to be supporting the Alzheimer’s Society.
“Dementia affects millions of people and their families across the UK, including some of the Strategi team, and the work the Alzheimer’s Society does is truly life changing. Our team is passionate about making a difference, and we’re looking forward to a year of fundraising and awareness-building to support this vital cause.”
Rachel Ford, Alzheimer’s Society Community Fundraiser, said: “We are so grateful that Strategi have chosen to support Alzheimer’s Society. Each hour people generously give to fundraise for us, every event they take part in, every pound they donate, they’re making a life-changing difference to people living with dementia.
“Alzheimer’s Society provides vital support to people living with dementia, funds ground-breaking research and campaigns to make dementia the priority it should be. Together, we will end the devastation caused by dementia. There are almost a million people living with dementia in the UK. But we simply can’t reach everyone without the continued support of our incredible fundraisers Strategi.”
