TWO Wiltshire firms are backing our efforts to raise money for Julia's House children hospice.

Active Kitchens and Bathrooms, of Calne, and Banks BHG chartered accountants, from Swindon, have pledged to make Julia's House their charity of the year.

Staff from the Calne kitchen and bathroom firm have already raised more than £2,000 from a curry night at the Spice of Bengal Indian Restaurant which included a raffle, silent auction and a headshave by a member of staff.

Active's Fiona Burtenshaw said: "Our business wanted to support a local charity and Julia’s Children’s Hospice fitted very nicely with our customer base which deals heavily with plumbers who all have families.

"To have a children’s hospice in Wiltshire will be fantastic for families affected and now that a site in Devizes has been chosen we are even more encouraged to be involved raising funds and awareness."

Future plans by the firm to support Julia’s House include taking part in the Calne Bike Meet by having a stall in the centre of Calne, a customer fundraising party, having collection boxes at its two branches and holding a coffee morning.

Ged Montgomery, from Julia’s House, praised the efforts of Fiona and John and all the team from Active and thanked them for all their efforts to date and looked forward to their continued support during the coming year.

Neil Elsden, director at Banks BHG, said he was delighted his staff had picked Julia’s House.

He said: "We select a charity every year, and over the past five years have raised more than £12,000. Our criteria is that the charity we support must be local.

"We also like to choose a charity where we know how the funds we raise will be spent, and what better way than on a new hospice?

"Our staff overwhelmingly chose Julia’s House to support during 2016. Having a children’s hospice and community service such as this based in Wiltshire seems essential, and we’ll do all we can to help."

Banks BHG is holding a variety of fundraising events, including a staff bake-off, golf day, race night, and sponsored walk. The first event is a quiz, to be held on April 28 at the De Vere Hotel in West Swindon, and is open to teams for four, with the entry fee £5 per person. To book for the quiz, visit www.banksbhg.com.

Mr Montgomery said: “We are delighted and very grateful that Banks BHG have decided to support us and wish them luck in their fundraising attempts during 2016."