Bikes and buns on agenda as staff go that extra mile

A BUSINESS from West Yorkshire has donated almost £17,000 to the Yorkshire Post's Communities in Need appeal charity over the last two years thanks to a range of activities put on by staff.

Property consultants NPS in Castleford held an event for staff, key contacts and clients where they had various stalls selling items such as books, cakes and sweets.

The company asked for donations from local companies and employees, who contributed through baking and donating prizes – and staff joined forces to cycle 210 miles in an in-house bike-a-thon, which was the equivalent of going around the Wakefield district twice.

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They are raising money to help some of the neediest people in our region – as part of our Christmas appeal for the Yorkshire Community Foundations.

Richard Hodgson, managing director of NPS's Castleford office, said: "I have been overwhelmed by the staff's efforts and enthusiasm to help raise funds. This is greatly appreciated, not only by me but also the other Community Foundation board members and all those local groups that we are helping to support."

NPS is also holding a staff dinner and Christmas raffle – hoping proceeds from its activities this year will reach 2,500, which will be doubled to 5,000 by the Government's match-funding scheme.

Staff have raised 2,170 (match-funded to 4,340) so far this year, which is in addition to the company's annual corporate donation of 5,000 over the last two years.

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Staff also raised 1,200 last year – doubled as a result of the match-funding scheme to 2,400 – taking the total amount raised so far for the Community Foundation to 16,740. They raised the 1,200 in 2009 through an office Christmas dinner and raffle.

NPS business development manager Rachel Roberts said: "We at Castleford are keen to support local organisations and voluntary groups in an effort to encourage and nurture community regeneration and help improve the quality of life of those around us."

NPS is a firm specialising in design, technical and property management consultancy services.

Shona Walsh, Community Foundation for Wakefield District chief executive, said she is grateful for the fund-raising done by NPS.

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"We would also like to encourage more businesses within the district to adopt a return to localism and play and active role in the 'big society' in Wakefield district by working with their local Community Foundation," she added.

You can donate to our appeal by visiting www.justgiving.com/communitiesinneed; or making a cheque payable to the "LCF Communities in Need appeal" and sending it to Leeds Community Foundation, 51a St Paul's Street, Leeds, LS1 2TE; or simply walk into any Yorkshire Bank branch and make a donation to the "LCF Communities in Need appeal".