Mendip District Council is pleased to announce that over £1,000 has been raised for its 2015 charity of the year, We Hear You, formerly known as Positive Action on Cancer. We Hear You is a Frome-based charity which focuses on offering counselling and support to those affected by cancer and their families. The charity was voted to be the council’s charity of the year 2015 by staff and through various fundraising events, organised by the staff group Mendip Sports and Social Club, £1130 was raised for the charity.
Helen Sprawson-White, We Hear You fundraiser said: “We are extremely grateful to the support that Mendip District Council have given us. The life changing £1130 raised will pay for over 34 sessions of free, professional counselling for local children and adults affected by cancer and other life threatening conditions and will make a huge difference to their lives. If anyone would like to know more about the service that We Hear You offers, please go to www.wehearyou.org.uk”
Staff at the district council based in Shepton Mallet, nominate and vote for a different charity each year to support and hold various fundraising events such as bake offs, staff quiz, raffles and dress down days to raise money. For 2016 the council staff have voted to support Age UK Somerset.
Phillip Dolan, CEO for Age UK Somerset said: “We are extremely grateful that Mendip District Council have decided to support Age UK Somerset during 2016. Covering the whole of the county of Somerset and beyond, we work tirelessly to make everyone’s later years as enjoyable, rewarding and fulfilling as possible. This may be about keeping physically active, making new friends or just getting the right impartial advice on financial matters. With an ever increasing elderly population, the role of Age UK Somerset becomes more important to residents as each year goes by. We have a fantastic cohort of some 400 volunteers who spearhead our service delivery. But funding is still desperately needed. We can assure Mendip District Council that every single pound raised will be spent wisely and wholly on the needs of elderly residents.”
Carol Taylor, chair of the Mendip Sports and Social Club, said: “In the past we have supported many various charities but the council decided that for 2015 it would be nice to support a local charity. I’m delighted that we have raised this amount for We Hear You as it’s the second largest sum that we have raised to date and we hope to build on that success. I’m really excited about supporting Age UK Somerset in 2016 and look forward to the various events we’ll be hosting throughout the year.”
To find out more about the council’s charities of the year please visit their websites at www.wehearyou.org.uk or www.ageuk.co.uk/Somerset.