At C8, purpose has always been part of our DNA. For more than twenty years, we’ve encouraged our team to champion causes that matter to them and to us as a business. One organisation that continues to inspire us is Action for Children (AfC), a charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable children, young people and families across the UK.
As we look ahead, we’re proud to announce that AfC will remain our charity of choice for 2026. After an incredible year of fundraising in 2025, we’re excited to build on that momentum and deepen our support for a cause that is close to our hearts.
Reflecting on 2025: A Year of Impact
Thanks to the generosity of our colleagues, clients, partners, friends and families, we raised nearly £4,000 in 2025. This remarkable total came from a series of initiatives that brought our team together in the spirit of community and compassion.
Our 2025 fundraising highlights included:
Paula Elliott’s Reading 1020 Half Marathon (March 2025)
Paula kicked off the year with an incredible run, raising £1,442, setting a strong foundation for the months ahead.
Team Visit to West Hyde (July 2025)
Our team visited AfC’s short-stay residential centre to gain a deeper understanding of the life-changing support it provides for young people with additional needs and their families.
C8 Bake-off Cake Sale (September 2025)
Small acts add up. Our Bake-off Cake Sale saw every team member bake and sell cakes to other businesses in Landmark, Reading, a simple but meaningful way to raise funds and awareness.
Boycott Your Bed 2025 (October 2025)
A flagship AfC event where our team swapped their beds for sleeping bags to raise awareness of youth homelessness. We joined hundreds of others in London taking part in the sleepout itself. Despite Storm Amy, spirits remained high, and we even found shelter in St Paul’s Cathedral. The 2025 event marked the 28th anniversary of the initiative, originally known as Byte Night, which has now raised over £14 million since its inception.
Secret Santa Donations (December 2025)
We closed the year with our annual Secret Santa tradition, helping to spread joy to children and families supported by AfC at a time of year when these small acts matter.
Each initiative brought its own sense of camaraderie, purpose and reflection. From half marathons and cake sales to braving the elements in London and giving back at Christmas, our team has consistently shown resilience, empathy and commitment.
Why We Continue to Support Action for Children
The need for AfC’s work has never been more urgent. According to Shelter, homelessness among young people is rising sharply, including those who are “hidden homeless”, sofa surfing or living in temporary accommodation. In 2023 alone, an estimated 136,000 young people aged 16–24 were homeless or at risk.
AfC reached over 765,000 children, young people and families last year, offering safe spaces, emotional support, practical help and opportunities to thrive. Their work is vital, and we are honoured to play a small part in helping them reach even more people.
A Message from Action for Children
“At Action for Children, our partnership with C8 Consulting has already been truly inspiring. Their support for our Secret Santa campaign, participation in our annual sleep out event – Boycott Your Bed, office cake sales fundraisers, and the way they’ve rallied both colleagues and clients to support our work have made a real difference to vulnerable children and young people. We’re especially grateful for the leadership shown by Managing Director, Paula Elliott, whose energy and commitment, we’re sure, permeates across the whole team. C8’s team passion for helping others shines through in everything they do, and we are incredibly thankful for their continued support as we head into 2026.”
– Natalie Salazar, Regional Corporate Manager at Action for Children
Looking Ahead: Launching Our 2026 Fundraising
To kickstart our 2026 fundraising efforts, our Managing Director, Paula Elliott, will once again be running the Reading Half Marathon – this time on 22nd March 2026. Paula’s determination and passion set the tone for our year of giving, and we’re excited to rally behind her as she takes on the challenge once more.
If you’d like to support Paula and help us start 2026 with impact, you can donate via our JustGiving page: Paula Elliott is fundraising for Action for Children.
Here’s to another year of purpose, partnership and positive change, and to Boycott Your Bed 2026 waiting just around the corner.