A year of fun and games has raised almost £11,000 for National Star

We have raised a whopping £10,949.75 by organising a full programme of events which included a pool tournament and carol concert, spent a day at the races with the college, provided our services to create people’s wills, and put payments from documents that needed witnessing straight into the pot.

Now the Cheltenham-based firm is handing over the last cheque to National Star, which will use the money to support young people with complex disabilities and acquired brain injuries.

James Grigg, partner and head of the charity committee, said everyone was delighted to smash their £10,000 target and it had been good to focus effort on raising money for just National Star as the company’s charity of the year.

“We’ve grown very close to the brilliant team at National Star and seen the great work they do so it’s sad when we come to the end of the fundraising year but at least we can still support them by using their facilities for some of our seminars,” he said.

The event that raised the most money was a quiz night where 230 people, making up 52 teams, took part in a battle of wits. Gloucestershire businesses joined together to raise £4,600 in one evening, many of them donating prizes for an auction held on the night.

“It’s very hard to get people to spend an evening with lawyers but National Star is always so well received in the community that working in conjunction with their team made it much more meaningful.” Mr Grigg said.

National Star will use the money raised to enhance young people’s lives and help them meet their full potential.

“On behalf of the young people that we support, National Star says a huge thank you to Willans,” said David Ellis, Chief Executive of National Star.

“It’s a huge amount to raise in just a year and illustrates how companies can make a real difference when staff come together to focus their support.”