Bowmark donates £85,000 to Pursuing Independent Paths

The Bowmark team canoed in pairs along the Thames from Reading to Henley-on-Thames, covering a total distance of 16.5km. The team was delighted to be cheered on by a group of volunteers and students from PiP as they passed under Sonning Bridge.

PiP, a London-based charity which Bowmark has partnered with for six years, delivers person-centred support to adults with learning disabilities and differences, enabling them to develop the skills to lead more independent lives.

The £85,000 donation will fund PiP’s social enterprise, Fruitful, a pop-up fruit juice stall run by its students. Fruitful offers PiP’s students the opportunity to develop workplace skills, including product creation, food hygiene and marketing. It also provides experience in teamwork, customer communication and handling payments, which helps to build confidence and prepare students for the working environment.

Claire Godwin, community fundraiser at PiP said: “From all of us at PiP, we would like to say a big thank you to everyone at Bowmark for their continued support! This is an incredible partnership that is vital in supporting adults with learning disabilities or autism to gain valuable employment skills. Last Friday, our students had a fantastic day out and were so pleased to cheer on and surprise the canoeing team. Go Bowmark!”

Charles Ind, managing partner of Bowmark, commented: “We are delighted to continue to support the inspirational work done by PiP. This partnership is very special to us, having watched the organisation and its students grow from strength-to-strength over the past six years.”