Caring start-up supports children in women’s refuge with Buddy Bag pack

Staff at a community-focused business filled 180 backpacks of essential items and teddies for children escaping violent homes. 

The first Buddy Bag pack at Payaro gave its team a hands-on insight into the charity they have pledged to support with £10,000 a year. 

Payaro directors Danny and Lee Dunne then delivered some of the bags to a local women’s refuge.  

They were joined by Karen Williams OBE, founder of the Buddy Bag Foundation which funds the supplies to children entering emergency accommodation entirely through donations. 

Payaro is a new Staffordshire-based start-up where every time a payment is made through its payment technology, a share is automatically shared with BBF. The money raised through a percentage of the transaction fee is also then match-funded by a Payaro partner. 

They were also joined by Buddy bag supporters and Payaro customers Ron Mcllreavy of Hanley Town Football Club and Craig Spillane of MenUnite at the event. 

Payaro’s marketing director, Danny Dunne, said: “This was an amazing day for us, underlining our purpose. For our team to learn more about the Buddy Bag Foundation and be inspired by Karen and all she has achieved so far was hugely rewarding and humbling. 

“One of my most important aims of the day was to showcase that when a host, a charity, partners, and customers all join together, great things can happen – and that the strength is in the collective.” 

The company, based in Anson Court, Horninglow Street, is now set to complete a Buddy Bag pack each month. 

But Danny said the first one was extra special.  

“Not only to have our team there but to have been joined by Ron and Craig means a lot,” he said.  

Karen Williams OBE, Buddy Bag Foundation founder said: “We are immensely grateful for Payaro’s very significant support. Their hands-on help means we can supply not only local children but families across the country at a time when more youngsters are having to flee, due to a rise in domestic violence since lockdown started last year.”