London,
18
November
2010
|
23:00
Europe/London

Orange and T-Mobile contact centre staff join forces for Children in Need

  • For this first time, Orange and T-Mobile staff team up to take calls for Children in Need
  • In-house, blues band tours Scotland and the North of England in 12 hour, 500 mile challenge
  • 'Strictly Come Prancing' dance competition celebrates local talent

19th November 2010: Everything Everywhere, the UK's biggest communications company which runs two of the UK’s most famous brands – T-Mobile (UK) and Orange (UK) – is rallying staff to take part in joint activities to raise money for Children in Need. For the first time, staff across both brands are teaming up for the fundraising. Activities include volunteers taking calls for Children in Need, while the in-house blues band will be touring Scotland and the North East of England.

Orange's North Tyneside contact centre will be handling all consumer calls from the public for the Tees region for Children in Need on the evening of 19th November. For the first time, approximately 135 volunteers from Orange's contact centre in Darlington and T-Mobile's contact centre in Doxford will take calls with staff at the North Tyneside site.

Blues band Anything Anywhere, made up of staff across the company, aims to play five gigs in 12 hours, visiting Orange and T-Mobile contact centres in Scotland and the North of England, covering 500 miles. Known for hits such as Mustang Sally and their signature song 'Everybody' by the Blues Brothers, the band made its debut in 2009 at an 'Orange Has Talent' event and is back by popular demand.

Sony Ericsson is also supporting the band's tour through donating 15 Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini smartphones and two Sony PlayStations as prizes for a raffle where all the proceeds will go to Children in Need.

These ambitious plans form part of Everything Everywhere’s 'We Care' initiative – a series of weekly activities which aim to make a difference to the community. Driven by the contact centres, these activities are taking place throughout November and will focus on the core themes of Charity, Green and Community.

Helen Davies, Head of Respect & ResponsibilityEverything Everywhere said, "Our contact centre staff are always keen to be involved in fundraising activities and this year is no exception. 'We Care' week kicking off with the Children in Need fundraising presents us with a unique opportunity to engage all of our colleagues across both brands and enables us to give something back to the community. It's exciting to be able to rally everyone across the business on a scale that's never been possible before, and we hope to double the money we raised last year."

Other Children in Need activities taking place in contact centres across the country include 'Strictly Come Prancing With Spots On' – a dance competition with a difference. Whether it's Ballroom, Foxtrot, or Boogie-woogie, Orange and T-Mobile staff will be holding competitions to find the best and funniest dance duo or troupe. In the final dance off, contestants will be judged on their entertainment value, costumes, choreography and musicality. All proceeds from tickets for the final will go to Children in Need.

Last year, over £33,000 was raised for Children in Need and Everything Everywhere hopes to double the figure this year, with a target of £75,000. Everything Everywhere will also top up any funds raised by 25%. Children in Need goodies, including Pudsey wrist bands, will also be sold in Orange and T-Mobile stores across the country.

About EE
EE is the most advanced digital communications company in Britain, providing mobile and fixed line services to 27 million customers, and will soon become the first company in the UK to provide 4G mobile services alongside fixed-line fibre.EE is the company that runs the Orange and T-Mobile brands in the UK, and will be launching its new superfast 4G brand – EE – in the coming weeks.Its 4G service will cover a third of the population by the end of 2012 and its fibre service will cover 50% of the population by the end of the year.EE's mobile service currently provides coverage to 99% of the population with 2G and 98% of the population with 3G

Follow us on…

Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ee

Twitter at: www.twitter.com/ee

YouTube at: www.youtube.com/ee

LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/company/ee-uk