Thanks to the hard work and persuasive powers of one Ponteland business, an entire business community came together in the spirit of Red Nose Day to raise funds for Comic Relief.

On Friday 15th March,  Jane Henderson and Avril Taylor of Major Family Law went out and about in Ponteland Village for most of the day, knocking on doors and shaking their big red bucket at local businesses to collect donations in aid of Comic Relief.

Sporting their distinctive “Major Look” sashes, the ladies took time out of their busy working day to visit local businesses and collect their generous donations.

Charity starts at home, and the day started with a call to arms from Major Family Law principal, Joanne Major, for her own staff to stop by the big red bucket in their general office and donate any spare change, before the bucket was taken on its tour of Ponteland.

In a real sense of community, staff from all the businesses visited joined in the spirit of giving with some donning the eponymous Red Nose before dropping their contribution in the bucket.

Known for her proactive approach to charitable giving, Joanne Major said, “I’m a great believer in community: both supporting and rallying it. I’m not interested in being able to say I sit on committees; I believe in actually going out there and making a difference.  I am very lucky to have a loyal and dedicated team working with me, who share my principles, and I’m proud of both Jane and Avril for their willingness to volunteer and for making sure the collection was such a success.”

After the collection was finished, it then fell to Jane Henderson to count the contributions.  Jane reported that an impressive £350 was collected and has been submitted to Comic Relief.

Local Ponteland businesses who kindly contributed were:-

Major Family Law, Strettles, Iain Nicholson & Co, Look Twice, Taylors Chemists, Rialtos, Henry’s  Hairdressing, Nicholson & Morgan, Jan’s Kitchen, Rowlands accountants, Pattinsons, HSBC, Panache, Lloyds TSB, Trading Places, Peter Harrison, The Rendezvous, staff & customers of The Diamond, Ponteland Hardware, Q Hairdressers, Poppys, Ponteland Hair and Beauty, Mackley & Steven Opticians, Gills Fish & Chip Shop

Comic Relief is a registered charity 326568 (England/Wales;SCO39730 (Scotland))