Merlin has charity at its heart

If there’s one thing Merlin Housing Society can be sure of, it’s its staff’s generosity when it comes to supporting good causes. Since March last year, the society has raised over £6,000 from its fundraising efforts. 

It’s had teams involved in a vibrant charity football match, a gruelling 10k, a soggy dragon boat race and a nail-biting abseil. It also supported Wear it Pink by doing just that, Children in Need with a dress-down Friday and Movember with some dodgy moustache growing.

Around 35% of the total raised went to Merlin’s 2012 corporate charity, The Tom Hunt Trust. The rest went to other causes including St Peter’s Hospice, the Oncology Unit at Bristol’s Children’s Hospital and The Brandon Trust.

 The organisation is in the process of choosing its corporate charity for the coming financial year. Staff are voting for either

 ·        Cots for Tots / The Grand Appeal – the Baby unit at St Michael’s Hospital

 ·        Julian Trust Night Shelter – supports people who are homeless

 ·        Brandon Trust – supports people with learning disabilities

 ·        West of England MS Centre – supports sufferers of MS

 ·        Missing Link – Supports women with mental health issues

 ·        Ridgewood Centre  - community centre and registered charity

 ·        BUST – supports women with breast cancer

Merlin’s Communications Manager, Faye Galvin said: “I’ve been really impressed with people’s enthusiasm for throwing themselves off buildings, plunging into icy water and dressing up in ridiculous outfits all in the name of charity.

“We hope to do even more next year. We’re already planning on sending a team to jump out of a plane and to stair climb the height of a mountain in the Alps. And, we’re on the look out for a new corporate charity to support.”