Newport-based multi-specialist recruitment and training agency, Acorn, has rewarded the winner of its recent #SelfieForCharity campaign with a cheque for £500 to be donated to their chosen cause.

Cardiff-based Panasonic Manufacturing UK Ltd was declared over all winner and has chosen to donate the £500 prize to bereavement support charity, The Lullaby Trust.

The Lullaby Trust was chosen because Panasonic's purchasing department’s team leader Mike Gallagher was raising funds for his partner’s sister-in-law, Natasha Greenway, whose baby daughter, Pennie Olive, passed away in July 2015.

Among other important services, The Lullaby Trust provides support for bereaved families affected by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, as well as vital research to help identify why, where and when babies and toddlers may be most at risk of sudden and unexplained death.

Natasha, from Caerphilly, said: “I am extremely grateful to Acorn for running this competition, and to Panasonic for choosing to donate their winnings to The Lullaby Trust. The money donated will help the charity continue the vital work they do to support bereaved families.

“The Lullaby Trust has been a truly great support throughout my bereavement and I now want to support them as much as I can so they can help others who, like me, have suffered the devastating loss of a child.”

To raise additional funds, Natasha will be running the London marathon this year alongside her sister-in-law, Emma Greenway.

Maria Larcombe, director of operations for Acorn, said: “The aim of the campaign was to give entrants the opportunity to give something back to charities that really need support. We’re absolutely delighted to see that Panasonic, a company we have a great, longstanding relationship with, has chosen such a worthy charity.”

HR manager for Panasonic Lisa Angus said: “We are thrilled to have won the competition. To show support to Mike Gallagher and his fundraising efforts for the charity, the whole of Panasonic’s HR team decided to enter Acorn’s #SelfieForCharity competition. Everyone in the team got involved and it was a bit of fun; who doesn’t like to take a selfie? But to have won and be able to support a vital staff member and his family by donating in this way is fantastic.”

Acorn has its UK headquarters at the Celtic Springs Business Park in Newport and operates from 39 branches across Wales and the South West, North West, South East of England and in Australia.

Acorn places up to 6,500 people into the workplace with around 1,200 different clients each week. The group also delivers training to more than 1,000 individuals each month and makes 1,700 permanent placements every year.