Staff raise thousands for good causes

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.