Portsmouth business campus chooses next charity of the year

Lakeside North Harbour business campus in Portsmouth has announced its charity of the year, Fair Ways.

Having started out 20 years ago in fostering, Fair Ways has since grown to provide residential, family, education, and health services to around 800 children and their families across the South of England.

Here in Hampshire, the charity runs schools in Fareham, Totton and Swanwick for students with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, as well as those with an autistic spectrum condition.

This diverse range of expertise, alongside their innovative therapeutic care, enables Fair Ways to offer young people a variety of different care pathways.

The charity moved into the Portsmouth campus in 2021 and has since built strong relationships with other occupiers.

Throughout the year, Lakeside will be supporting their work in and around Hampshire through fun runs, a summer fete, and a sponsored garden.

Businesses on campus will also be regularly updated about the charity and the latest fundraising activities.

Gareth Webb, Managing Director at Fair Ways, said: “We are very honoured that Lakeside has chosen Fair Ways as their charity partner this year.

“We look forward to harnessing the power of this great business community to raise awareness of the need for foster carers and more support for care leavers looking to gain employment in the local area.”

Planting trees in March with The QGC

It’s a community which includes the likes of Totaljobs, NHS Property Services, Virgin Media, Checkatrade and AT&T, with companies spanning the maritime, accountancy, recruitment, technology and engineering sectors.

The 130-acre campus offers businesses plenty of green space, and occupiers regularly lead initiatives based around interacting with nature. This March, staff headed out to plant new pear trees with The Queen’s Green Canopy.

Simon Bateman, Asset Manager at Lakeside North Harbour, added: “Lakeside North Harbour has had an excellent relationship with Fair Ways and this will continue as our charity of the year.

“We will be supporting the charity with a range of activities and spreading the word about the excellent work that it carries out for children and young people.

“We look forward to an extremely productive year with Fair Ways and hope to see them continue to grow and flourish over the next year and beyond.”