£12,000 DONATION TOPS YEAR OF FUNDRAISING BY NORFOLK PROPERTY FIRM

Big-hearted staff at a Norfolk property firm spent a year raising funds for a local mental health charity – and handed over a cheque for £12,071.73 as a result of their efforts.

Staff at Arnolds Keys, which includes Keys Fine Art Auctioneers and agricultural property specialists Irelands, chose Norwich Mind as their designated charity for 2016, and set about raising money through a range of activities throughout the year.

A Sports Challenge involving 11 other professional firms, a series of Antiques Roadshow style valuation days across the county, a charity golf day, a summer fete and staff bake sales were amongst the initiatives undertaken by staff to reach the £12,000 milestone.

Receiving the cheque, Ruth Taylor, head of community partnerships at Norwich Mind, said, “We are thrilled and overwhelmed to receive such a fantastic amount from Arnolds Keys, and we are incredibly grateful to their charity committee and staff for choosing us, and the hard work they and everyone involved put in to raising such a huge amount of money.

“All the money raised will be spent locally to help support people with mental health needs in our county.”

Phil Cooper, one of the co-ordinators of Arnolds Keys’ charity effort, commented, “It is because so many of our colleagues get involved in the fundraising effort that  we have been so successful.  It just goes to show that even when you are working hard, there is always time to do something to help others.”

Norwich Mind campaigns on behalf of our communities for improvements in mental health services to reduce stigma and discrimination within the workplace and communities, and to enable individuals to access the right kinds of support to improve their mental wellbeing

Arnolds Keys staff choose a charity to support each year.  For 2017, the chosen charity is Age UK Norfolk.