Sainsbury's staff will be cranking up the fun factor and donning red noses in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for Red Nose Day on Friday – and the Essex Chronicle and Brentwood Gazette have already played their part too raising £255 for charity.
The day, held to support poverty charity Comic Relief, will see the Chelmsford and Brentwood superstores holding a range of events for customers and staff this Friday, March 15 – all for the fee of £1.
Last week, Gazette student reporters Joe Sturdy and Jodie Nesling helped raise £70 for Sainsbury's through a tin-shake and red nose sale, taking pictures of those who put money in the pot.
On Red Nose Day itself, the day of frolics customers and staff will be invited to throw wet sponges and foam pies during 'splat the manager', while children will have the opportunity to become tigers, dogs or butterflies with face painting taking place at the front of the store.
Younger members of staff were asked to get creative in a bid to raise the cash and the feeling appears to have spread amongst the store's 368 employees.
Darren Scott, manager of the Brentwood branch, said: "It makes me proud to be a manager – the whole place is buzzing.
"Some of the younger staff have been to local hospitals, giving out toys and we've had fantastic feedback."
Mr Scott said that he was particularly looking forward to the staff taking on the hottest curry competition, with chilli lover Paul Nolan being the staff member to beat. The store's workforce will also take part in fancy dress, and have got their own back on their boss, who was challenged to dress as a woman for the day.
It hasn't fazed Mr Scott, though: "My wife has seen it all before," he said, "last year I shaved my legs."
Human Resources Manager Vicki Broomfield will also be running the Brentwood Half Marathon on Sunday, March 24.
James Bullock, Customer Services Manager, said: "We'd love customers to donate – we're proud to support Comic Relief and everything helps."
The store, which raised £5,500 last year for the poverty charity, is challenging itself to raise £7,000 for this year, helped by Comic Relief's 'A Red Nose with Toes' and red deely boppers.
Essex Chronicle reporters Lauren Marie Nash and Tom Barnes photographed more than 70 people donning red noses on Friday, raising nearly £185 in Chelmsford city centre.
At Chelmsford Sainsbury's, they held a Mad Hatter's Tea Party on World Book Day last week to raise funds for Comic Relief.
Customer Service Manager, Dave Priest said: "The Mad Hatter's Tea Party day was a real success, our singing managed to raise around £800.
"I was in the rather uncomfortable onesie because I was dressed as the Cheshire Cat – but I felt like someone off of TOWIE.
"Our colleague Alex is also a very good DJ so he got the crowds going, and we also had a local school come down to join in on the singing.
"The more you dress up the more people want to donate, and that is what we are aiming for – for Chelmsford people to really get in the spirit of Red Nose Day.
"We hope to raise around £5,000, and I think we can do it if we keep activities going and people happy."
The day, held to support poverty charity Comic Relief, will see the Chelmsford and Brentwood superstores holding a range of events for customers and staff this Friday, March 15 – all for the fee of £1.
Last week, Gazette student reporters Joe Sturdy and Jodie Nesling helped raise £70 for Sainsbury's through a tin-shake and red nose sale, taking pictures of those who put money in the pot.
On Red Nose Day itself, the day of frolics customers and staff will be invited to throw wet sponges and foam pies during 'splat the manager', while children will have the opportunity to become tigers, dogs or butterflies with face painting taking place at the front of the store.
Younger members of staff were asked to get creative in a bid to raise the cash and the feeling appears to have spread amongst the store's 368 employees.
Darren Scott, manager of the Brentwood branch, said: "It makes me proud to be a manager – the whole place is buzzing.
"Some of the younger staff have been to local hospitals, giving out toys and we've had fantastic feedback."
Mr Scott said that he was particularly looking forward to the staff taking on the hottest curry competition, with chilli lover Paul Nolan being the staff member to beat. The store's workforce will also take part in fancy dress, and have got their own back on their boss, who was challenged to dress as a woman for the day.
It hasn't fazed Mr Scott, though: "My wife has seen it all before," he said, "last year I shaved my legs."
Human Resources Manager Vicki Broomfield will also be running the Brentwood Half Marathon on Sunday, March 24.
James Bullock, Customer Services Manager, said: "We'd love customers to donate – we're proud to support Comic Relief and everything helps."
The store, which raised £5,500 last year for the poverty charity, is challenging itself to raise £7,000 for this year, helped by Comic Relief's 'A Red Nose with Toes' and red deely boppers.
Essex Chronicle reporters Lauren Marie Nash and Tom Barnes photographed more than 70 people donning red noses on Friday, raising nearly £185 in Chelmsford city centre.
At Chelmsford Sainsbury's, they held a Mad Hatter's Tea Party on World Book Day last week to raise funds for Comic Relief.
Customer Service Manager, Dave Priest said: "The Mad Hatter's Tea Party day was a real success, our singing managed to raise around £800.
"I was in the rather uncomfortable onesie because I was dressed as the Cheshire Cat – but I felt like someone off of TOWIE.
"Our colleague Alex is also a very good DJ so he got the crowds going, and we also had a local school come down to join in on the singing.
"The more you dress up the more people want to donate, and that is what we are aiming for – for Chelmsford people to really get in the spirit of Red Nose Day.
"We hope to raise around £5,000, and I think we can do it if we keep activities going and people happy."
- Let us know what you will be doing for Red Nose Day - email editorial@gazettenews.co.uk and tweet your pictures from the day to @totalessex
