Southampton: BDO partner 'to go to jail'

The Southampton office of accountants and business advisers BDO LLP has come up with a novel way of raising money for local charity Fairbridge Solent – asking staff to vote for which of their six partners they want to spend a night at Her Majesty’s pleasure!

Lead partner Malcolm Thixton, along with Stuart Lisle, Kim Hayward, Andrew Lines, Paul Anthony and Paul Russell have all volunteered to take part and whoever receives the most votes will spend a night in a cell at Eastleigh Police Station.

The vote has already proved popular with staff members, who pay per vote. Audit manager Sam Lifford explained: “This fundraising idea has really caught the imagination of staff and we have also opened it up to clients and friends of BDO. We invite people to vote by contacting us via email so we can raise as much money as possible. The best bit is there’s no limit on how many times you can vote!

“Our thanks go to everyone involved, especially Hampshire Constabulary, which has been very accommodating and supportive, for what is a great cause.”

The innovative funding drive comes as part of the Zero to Hero entrepreneurial challenge organised by Southampton charity Fairbridge Solent, which inspires positive change in disadvantaged young people, supporting them to develop the confidence, motivation and skills they need to turn their lives around. Teams are challenged to turn £500 into a minimum of £5,000 by November, through a variety of fundraising activities.

For more information and to vote for your ‘favourite’ BDO Partner, email Sam Lifford
sam.lifford@bdo.co.uk