Business for Good – a Look Back at 2023
For the R&D tax relief sector, it’s no understatement to say that 2023 was a difficult year. Seismic changes in the sector and more notably, HMRC’s new volume-based enquiry approach, has caused both confusion and uncertainty to many within the industry.
But whilst on a business level uncertainty still remains, throughout last year, and into 2024, YesTax’s focus on sustaining its ‘Business for Good’ philosophy continues to be placed high on our agenda.
In 2023, YesTax was proud to have made the following contributions to vulnerable children:
Toddler’s Bed Donated for Hard Hit Family
The cost of living crisis shows no sign of abating, and with it YesTax came to learn of a struggling single-parent family unable to afford a bed for their youngest child. Bed poverty, unfortunately common in the UK, affects many vulnerable families. In 2020, nearly one-third of low-income households struggled to provide beds for their children, a number that is still on the rise.
To help ease the burden, YesTax, was able to supply this family of three with a bed, mattress, duvet, pillow and bedding. This small yet impactful contribution reflects YesTax's everyday commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of vulnerable children.
Later in the year YesTax learnt of another family from a local primary school in need of a bed for the 2-year-old sibling of a child who attended the school. At the time the child was sharing a bed with their mother, and the family was desperately in need of support. YesTax was able to intervene and help with the provision of a bunk bed and bedding for the siblings. This meant that the children were able to sleep independently from their mother and have their own bedtime routine.
Working with Affinity and Yorkshire's Hidden Gems to Help Care Experienced Young People
A positive contribution towards local opportunity! YesTax provided ‘Yorkshire's Hidden Gems Memberships’ for Affinity2020 Care Leavers Charity, empowering care-experienced youth and families to explore Yorkshire's treasures with access to all the great places the region has to offer.
Affinity aims to provide £1000 worth of opportunities for each care-experienced young person in Rotherham by 2030.
Affinity 2020 said, "A massive thank you to YesTax as Yorkshire's Hidden Gems Membership Card offers the opportunity for young people to make connections with wider people in society, and to understand and engage with what is around them."
Easter Eggs Donations
In April, YesTax donated £500 to provide Easter eggs for children in care in the South Yorkshire region. This payment was also used towards providing presents for children celebrating Eid al-Fitr.
£250,000 to Support Education for Vulnerable Children
In the summer we took time to reflect back on the support our Guiding Light charity has provided to vulnerable children in Nepal. In a little over four years, we have donated a quarter of a million pounds, with much of the funding going to help fund our Antardristi safe house, one-to-one and group counselling sessions to help the children through their trauma and provide education programmes for both the children as well as adults that affect the lives of those children.
Binita and her team at the safe house, work with each child’s family to help them understand the effects of their behaviour and the damage it has caused. Further educational sessions are also held for staff, women’s groups, schools and even the Nepalese police.
YesTax Sign Up to Become Children's Champions
YesTax were proud to become a Children's Champion for The Children's Hospital Charity. The partnership enables us to actively enhance the well-being of young patients at Sheffield Children's Hospital, ensuring they receive the highest standard of care and a nurturing environment.
At the launch event, Myla-Mae's inspiring journey battling Aplastic Anemia deeply moved us, reinforcing our commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of children in need at the hospital. By joining as Children's Champions, we directly contribute to improving medical services, equipment, and amenities. This ensures a better experience for children and families during their hospital stay, providing the care, comfort, and hope they deserve.
£5,000 Boost for Endeavour's Life-Changing Adventures
This year we have continued to support Endeavour, a local charity working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds across South Yorkshire to deliver impactful experiences that they would otherwise not have the chance to experience.
YesTax has donated £5,000 this year to support adventurous and residential activities for vulnerable young people that can’t currently be funded from any other source. The fund will be used this summer to support two of Endeavours most vulnerable groups, joining together for a short camping residential in the Peaks.
Elsie's Appeal
YesTax made a contribution towards Elsie's Appeal, raising money to help Elsie who has a terminal illness called Batten Disease. To enable Elsie to live at home, her family needed to raise funds to build a specialist extension to support her full-time care and give Elsie as many loving memories as possible!
Meet Otis - The Life-Saving Support Puppy
YesTax is sponsoring a puppy! For two years, YesTax will donate £1,000 a month to fund the purchase and training of a puppy called, Otis. Support dogs, like Otis, provide life-saving support to children who may have autism, epilepsy or other physical disabilities. In September we received a fantastic update on Otis' training progress.
“Otis is a very smart pup and is picking all his training up very quickly which is a good thing but as he's getting older we are going to have to be a step ahead of him to make sure he doesn't get bored. Otis is still working on his loose lead walking but the big wide world is very exciting and sometimes we just need to sniff everything and explore! Otis has learnt how to do a nose nudge which didn't take him very long at all. Overall he's a happy confident puppy who has a bright future.” Emily, Otis’ Trainer
YesTax’s Hardship Fund Provides a New Oven for Family Amidst Cost-of-Living Crisis
YesTax offers funding in the form of small grants during times of financial hardship. The support available includes food and clothing vouchers, beds and bedding, as well as essential home appliances including cookers, fridge freezers and washing machines.
In September we helped a vulnerable family facing a broken oven amid the cost-of-living crisis. With a child with special needs and winter essentials to cover, their struggle was intense. Our delivery of a new oven brought relief, ensuring warm meals and easing the burden on this family before colder weather came in.
YesTax and Guiding Light: Empowering Nepali Safe House with a New Jeep
YesTax and the Guiding Light Foundation continues to fund our safe house in Nepal, providing security for children who have been victims of sexual abuse and helping to secure a bright future for these children. Recently, with the help of YesTax, Binita was able to secure a Jeep to help pick up vulnerable children and assist with school runs, reducing the need for public transport, often not the safest mode for transport for these children.
Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust Donation
Having undertaken an R&D claim for one of our clients in March, it was requested that the charitable portion of the invoice be donated to the Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust. The charity believe that children in care have the right to the same opportunities as everyone else – at home, school and in their communities, and as such helps to creates children’s homes where children can thrive.
Shirt Sponsors for Cutthorpe Cricket Club 2023
YesTax is proud to be this season’s shirt sponsor for Cutthorpe Cricket Club. The club runs an inspiring initiative that supports children in care providing free access to local club cricket; training and matches. This transformative programme has seen remarkable success stories, with one participant now running a thriving business, and still playing cricket some 12 years later.
Aligned with YesTax's commitment to community, the sponsorship enables the provision of free training kits, coaching and social events tp assist the physical, mental, and social development of individuals. Best wishes to Cutthorpe Cricket Club for a successful 2024.
YesTax Spreads Christmas Cheer
Dunelm's community-focused Christmas campaign enables volunteer shoppers to fulfil the requests of local residents in need. Unsurprisingly, rather than toys and games, many requested winter essentials such as hats, scarves, socks and toiletries. Festive food items and selection boxes were also in high demand.
The YesTax team shopped ‘til they dropped and spent £527.52 on gifts for those in need. We supported the Wadsley Bridge, Woodseats, Chesterfield, and Rotherham areas.
