Ashby solicitors Fishers has announced that - over a two year period - a total of £7,241.42 has been raised for charity.

For the last two years, Fisher has supported Go Beyond, Mind and Cancer Research.

Fishers also held a cake sale for Macmillan who will receive £138.80, leaving £2,367.54 for each of the other three charities.

• Go Beyond provides week long holidays for disadvantaged children aged 8-15. The amount donated could either:

• Cover the entire cost of a holiday for 2 children
• Provide activities (kayaking/rock climbing etc) for 118 children
• Provide 236 goody bags for children to take home
• Provide 473 roast dinners

• Mind provides mental health and wellbeing support. Fishers donation has been ringfenced for a newly opened a branch covering Leicestershire.

The amount donated could either:

• Provide 60 one-to-one counselling sessions
• Provide 236 training sessions for Mind volunteers
• Provide 95 telephone support sessions

• For Cancer Research, Fishers' donation will go towards the cost of funding scientists who continue to research ways to beat cancer.

Fishers has also named the 2023-2024 chosen charities - Burton YMCA and MSA Trust!

The YMCA offers a range of support to those who are homeless in East Staffordshire and has a food bank that can be accessed by anyone:

• The food bank provides emergency parcels, currently giving out 10-12 a day
• Three accommodation sites are currently housing 71 people who were homeless for a variety of reasons. They are receiving one to one support to help them get back to independent living. Outreach teams go out every 2 weeks at 5am to talk to those sleeping out and to see if they will accept the help that YMCA can offer
• Mediation services are offered as a preventative service. This comes from referrals, usually where children are involved, so that measures can be put in place to prevent situations worsening. Did you know: if you see someone sleeping out, you can call Street Link who will get help from a local service. Visit their website, app or call 0300 500 0914

The MSA Trust is a small but national charity which supports individuals with Multiple System Atrophy, along with their families. This neurological condition is very rare and unfortunately, there is no cure. It is part of the Parkinsons and Motor Neurone family but 45 times rarer, affecting five in every 100,000.

The charity provides specialist nurses who support individuals in managing symptoms. It also offers support groups for individuals and carers; both over zoom and face to face in various regions. An information service also works with individuals and organisations such as the NHS to provide information and factsheets as well as raise awareness. There are only 15 people working for this charity and their help goes a long way.

This year, Fishers plans two main fundraisers, firstly a sponsored sleepout. The idea is to experience what it is like to sleep rough.

Secondly, the solicitors also aims walk 1,268 miles as a team.

Collectively we will walk the distance between all the key locations of the MSA trust: This is their circle of care. Also we will be collecting donations for the YMC throughout the year of much needed items.

As well as larger fundraising events, the team at Fishers are able to raise money for charity with a selection of firm wide initiatives including a charity tuck shop, a monthly Powerball game, cake sales, socials and workshops.