When we started Mackenzie 13 years ago, our aim was simple – to help people to achieve their life goals through financial planning.

As the business developed, and as we worked with our clients to help them to articulate their values and life goals, we gave more thought to our own personal values, and what we wanted to achieve over and above this original mission.

We’ve built on this foundation to develop a core of values, which includes working with people we love, being part of the local community, providing help to people who will benefit from it, and supporting creative expression.

When we were approached by Bury Hospice to support their 10^th Bury Art Festival, it felt like the right fit for us on so many levels. The festival aims to use the beautiful surroundings of Bury Art Gallery to give artists from the north west region and beyond an opportunity to show and sell their art and to link this to supporting the very important work of Bury Hospice.

By being involved we felt we could fulfil our aims of supporting the community and the arts, whilst raising funds for something we believe provides real benefit to those who need it.

Our involvement began with sponsorship of the preview evening on May 9th. A champagne reception for the festival supporters and an opportunity to preview the art work before the general public.

We were able to invite some of our clients who have affinity with the arts, and for us as amateur art-enthusiasts, it was astonishing to see the standard of work demonstrated by the artists in our local area. It was also a fascinating insight from the judging panel as to how they chose the award winners and which artists they had chosen to feature.

A week later, we returned to the festival for our ‘networking with a difference’ event. Sponsored and arranged by Mackenzie, this was an opportunity for the local business community to come together in this unusual venue, for informal networking and breakfast. We were able to introduce many local business owners to the beautiful surroundings of Bury Art Gallery, and to the art festival, all while raising funds and awareness of the hospice’s need for corporate support.

Taking stock at the end of the week, we feel so privileged to have been involved with the Art Festival. As well as raising much needed funds to move the hospice towards their target of opening 2 new beds, we experienced real joy in facilitating these events.