Following a two-year postponement, 32 local businesses took part in an exciting seven-a-side football tournament on Saturday 21 May, raising over £27,000 for HARP - Southend’s leading homeless charity.

Speaking about the event, Jackie Bliss, Chief Executive at HARP, said: “World Cup-on-Sea 2022 was a huge success with an amazing atmosphere, excellent family based activities and some truly impressive footballing performances! To cap it off, all those who took part or attended have contributed towards raising a significant sum which will help us in our work helping local people to overcome or avoid homelessness.”

Initial funds were raised though each team paying an entry fee to play in the tournament, while several were businesses encouraged to raise money through their own office-based fundraising initiatives in a friendly competition.

Across our three offices, Rickard Luckin managed to raise over £900 and are therefore the top business fundraisers of the event, receiving a signed print of the England World Cup winning team from 1966. We would like to extend a huge thanks to our quizzers, cake-eaters, and all the other donators who got involved and helped us surpass our goal of £500.

Mark Brooks, Corporate Finance Associate and player in World Cup-on-Sea 2022, commented: “As an avid football fan, the opportunity to play in the World Cup-on-Sea at Roots Hall, even on a small part of it, was not to be missed - and something I jumped at when the opportunity to be part of the team arose.

“What I quickly realised, was that our training sessions arranged beforehand were equally as rewarding. Being able to train with colleagues helped to strengthen our internal relationships, improving our already excellent communication across the team.

“Additionally, the fundraising element to the event allowed the whole Rickard Luckin Team to be engaged in the event - raising money in the build-up supported our wider responsibilities as a business - and knowing that we were helping a great local charity such as HARP made the tired legs a little less achy!”

Rickard Luckin is hugely supportive of the local community and charity fundraising initiatives. In 2011, we set up a charity fund via Essex Community Foundation (ECF), which enables us to donate money raised throughout the year to local charities including Headway Essex, City of Chelmsford Mencap and Samaritans.

Additionally, all of our employees are encouraged to offer support by way of two volunteer days per year. So far this year, members of our team have offered support to the Castle Hedingham Guides, the community allotments/gardens at Garons Park and Changing Pathways’ International Womens’ Day.