Members of Woking Chamber of Commerce gathered at the Toby Cottage in Ripley for a dinner in aid of Surrey Community Development Trust (SCDT), a local charity supporting homeless and vulnerable people in the community.
Axis Accounting and Training Services sponsored the event and guests included the new High Sheriff of Surrey – Rob Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of Woking Borough Council Ray Morgan and the President of the Woking Chamber, Graham Mott of W Davies Solicitors.
Rob Douglas said:
“It’s very important to back local charities that provide support services like these and help to compliment the work done by the local council. SCDT has two Woking schemes for young people, Pound House and The Crescent, which is exactly the group - 16 to 25 year olds, particularly those who are disadvantaged in some way - I want to focus on during my year as High Sheriff.”
£1,650 was raised from the dinner, a raffle and auction, with prizes including a ride on the Concorde Simulator at Brooklands Museum, a case of wine and a day out at Ascot racecourse. The auction and raffle were conducted by Lady Toastmaster Jane Burridge, a member of the chamber.
Paul Mitchell, Chief Executive of SCDT, said:
“It’s great that businesses are supporting a local charity even in difficult economic times; we need their support to continue our work with some of the most vulnerable people in the community. We help over 60 people in the local area and over 1,300 people in total every year throughout Surrey and the South East. We are also involved in other local charity events later in the year, such as the St John’s church fete in Byfleet on Saturday 12 June and the Woking Rotary Swimathon on Saturday 16 October, so we’d encourage everyone to go along and support them as well.”
