A CHARITY group has handed over cheques totalling £8,500 to organisations and sporting clubs, despite a quieter year than usual for fundraising.
Some 15 organisations received the cash at a presentation evening organised by The Clique last month at Barnard Castle Workingmen’s Club.
Matthew Croom, chairman of the group, said: “Obviously we have had a quiet year for our fundraising.
“It has been some time since we pushed a bed around the dale or climbed a mountain, but thankfully people have been fundraising for us and it is great to get together after missing the hand out because of the pandemic last year.”
Cheques for £300 were handed to Barnard Castle Band and Middleton and Teesdale Silver Band, Teesdale Special Olympics, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Tiger Sharks, Staindrop Scouts, Barnard Castle Scouts and Bowes Football Club, as well as Barnard Castle’s cricket, rugby, table tennis, boxing and golf clubs.
Teesdale Opportunities for Disabled Youngsters was given a bumper £1,750.
Town mayor Cllr Rima Chatterjee was accompanied by her consort, Barnard Castle School pupil Will Gibbins, to present the cheques, before local band – Geriatric and the Pacemakers – got everyone on the dance floor.
The volunteer group, who normally organise a raft of fundraising events including the ever popular It’s a Knockout competition, have raised more than £150,000 in the last 44 years for local good causes.
