Access Self Storage Holiday Donation Drive Collects Thousands of Gifts for UK Charities

Update 12/19/23 – Access Self Storage collected more than 1,500 gifts during its annual Christmas Charity Appeal campaign. In all, 59 Access locations participated, with 44 sites collecting on behalf of Spread a Smile and its affiliate hospitals and hospice facilities. An additional 13 local charities across the U.K. will also receive donations raised during the initiative, according to a press release.

“We are thrilled we’ve collected over 1,500 gifts to deliver across our chosen charities,” Albert Fourie said. “Our stores work closely with their local communities, and we’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of both our customers and local residents this year. Working together, our teams and their communities have made sure that those in need will be treated to a gift this year from our Christmas collection, and we hope that our gifts make a difference.” 

Access has now collected more than 20,000 gifts since launching the campaign a decade ago.

11/9/23 –Access Self Storage, which operates 60 locations in England, has launched its annual Christmas Charity Appeal to collect donations for Spread a Smile, a nonprofit that provides entertainment and gifts to ill children in hospitals and hospice. The company will collect new and unwrapped toys and gifts at 43 of its sites from Nov. 13 through Dec. 11. The items will be distributed to children and their families at 30-plus hospitals across the United Kingdom, according to a press release.

Now in its 10th year, Christmas Charity Appeal has collected more than 18,500 toys for dozens of charities. “Our stores work closely with their local communities and each year build upon this campaign,” said Jan Albert Fourie, head of operations for Access. “We hope that this 10th anniversary year will enable us to smash the 20,000 donated toys ceiling, and that children in hospital across the U.K. will be treated to a gift this year from our Christmas collection. If all our customers and our local communities get behind the campaign, it will make a huge difference.”

“Partnering with Access Self Storage for the first time for its toy collection will mean we can spread even more magic this Christmas,” said Lucy Jackson, chief executive of Spread a Smile. “It’s a precious time of year and we know the Santa visits create unique and lasting memories. The support of the Access Self Storage teams, customers and their communities is truly priceless.”

In addition to self-storage, Access offers office space and mailboxes for rental and business services including document management. A large portion of its portfolio is in Greater London.