Staff raise thousands for good causes

Published by Hywel LLoyd for Merlin Housing Society in Housing and also in Communities

From dressing up for the Mad Hatter’s tea party, to getting saddle sore during a gruelling bike ride, to living in a shelter made from scrap materials, Merlin Housing Society employees did it all in the name of charity in 2011.

Staff from the South Gloucestershire-based social landlord raised more than £5,500 for charity during the year by taking part in a number of events. Most of the money was raised for the society’s corporate charity, Habitat for Humanity, an international charity dedicated to providing people with a decent home to live.

Chief executive Ian Matthews said: “We started off with Comic Relief and things really took off from there, with staff offering head massages, coming to work in fancy dress and running a charity football tournament. We’re delighted to have raised so much during the past year and as a growing organisation we hope to raise even more money for charity in 2012.”

The most successful event was a 50 mile cycle tour of Gloucestershire by ten of the society’s ICT team, which raised more than £1,800. Another successful event was the Habitat for Humanity Hope Challenge which raised £1,200. This saw six members of staff hiking across the Peak District for three days, sleeping in a shelter they’d made out of scrap materials.

As well as raising money for Habitat for Humanity, staff also raised money for Children in Need, Comic Relief and Cancer Research UK.