Each year, Smile Together employee-owners nominate and select a corporate charity to support. As a team, we raise funds for our chosen charity through various initiatives, such as bake sales, raffles, and sponsored events. This year, we are proud to support St Petrocs, a charity that provides vital support for those experiencing homelessness in Cornwall.
To raise awareness for homelessness and get a brief insight of what it’s like to sleep rough, our dedicated team members —Practice Managers Sadie Buswell and Hannah Rofe, Dental Nurse Helen Cooper, Senior Dental Nurse Katie Rowe, Dentist Sarah Mount, and Outreach Dental Nurse Natalie Peary—braved a night sleeping outside under the Eden Project canopy in November 2024. Although it was a cold and challenging experience, the team enjoyed taking part in a pizza-making workshop with the Eden Chefs and a printing workshop with Street Draw, all while keeping warm around the fire pits.
We are thrilled to announce that, thanks to their efforts, the team raised an incredible £625. St Petrocs is working tirelessly to end homelessness in Cornwall, believing that everyone deserves a safe and secure home. Their services include outreach, resettlement, supported accommodation, and access to advice, support, and medical services at their resource centres. They also offer an in-house counselling system and run a skills, training, and employment programme.
Sadie explained: “Homelessness is prevalent in Cornwall; we chose to participate in the Eden sleep out to raise awareness and funds to support the charity St Petroc’s who are working to end homelessness in Cornwall. This experience wasn’t to replicate homelessness but to raise awareness and funds, we attended this event as a group and found it an eye-opening experience yet humbling that we were able to be part of something that will indirectly improve many people’s lives. Together the 6 of us raised awareness between colleagues, families and friends and raised £600 in funds for St Petroc’s. We would love to take part in the event again as not only did we raise funds and awareness, as a team were united by the experience.”
In addition to St Petrocs, the sleep out raised funds for the Amber Foundation. Like St Petrocs, the Amber Foundation helps young adults facing complex issues, offering support for homelessness, unemployment, and life transformation to help individuals build a better future.
Millie Ewing, Engagement Officer for St Petrocs said: “I wanted to reach out with a huge thank you for all your amazing fundraising efforts. Your support means the world to everyone here at St Petrocs, and it’s making a real difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness. Together, we’re creating awareness and providing people with incredible support, and we couldn’t do it without you.”
We are excited to continue supporting this worthy cause and look forward to raising more funds to help those less fortunate in Cornwall.
