Cosy to honour kids charity on Ram Trail

Cosy Direct will be honouring a children’s charity with a specially-decorated ram sculpture at the forthcoming Derby Ram Trail exhibition.

The firm, which supplies responsibly sourced equipment to schools and nurseries, will be dedicating its ram to Derby Kids Camp, of which it is a patron.

Cosy, which moved from Siddals Road at the end of 2020 into a 45,000 sq ft building on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border, has been involved with the charity for several years.

This year, the firm is celebrating its 10th anniversary is planning 10 community-based initiatives.

It is one of 30 businesses and organisations sponsoring the Derby Ram Trail, which has been organised by Derby Museums and will take place from 27 May to 22 August.

The trail will lead people across the city following ram sculptures, which have been designed and painted by different artists.

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Cosy has commissioned award-winning artist Lynne Hollingsworth, from Duffield, to paint its sculpture for the trail, which will sit outside the city’s Primark store.

The firm is asking those who have been involved with the Derby Kids Camp charity to submit pictures of themselves in fancy dress, standing in front of the Ram sculpture, to their social media channels.

They will then create an archive of the submitted pictures and offer a prize for the most creative photograph.

Peter Ellse, chief executive of Cosy, said: “We are long-time supporters of Derby Kids Camp. I volunteered there many years ago and thousands of Derby families have benefitted from their summer camps over the last 47 years.

“We purchased the land on which the Kids Camp is held every year, using £500,000 from our Cosy Fund – the charitable fund which my wife, Amanda and I set up in 2002 to support small charities and voluntary organisations.

“Through the fund we have bought mattresses to be used on site, a minibus and board games for the children – and adults – to enjoy over the years.

“The idea to get Kids Camp volunteers and visitors past and present to take pictures of themselves in front of the Cosy Ram is a great way to raise awareness of the good work they do.”

The rams will be auctioned off at the end of the project to raise money for Derby Museums’ Endowment, supporting Derby's heritage.

Every pound raised will be doubled by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

To find out more about the Derby Ram Trail click here.