Duncan & Toplis Colleagues rally round to support charity close cut

A staff member at accountants and business advisers Duncan & Toplis shaved her head to support homelessness charity, Framework in Newark.

Fernanda Corierra was inspired to go through with the shave after a close family friend ­— who had been helped by Framework ­— died soon after Christmas.

Fernanda wanted to raise money in her memory to support the charity that meant so much to her.

She said: “The support Framework gave my friend changed her life. They gave her the confidence to get her own home and made her realise that there are people there to support you, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in.

“She was so grateful for all the help Framework provided.”

Framework, based at Russell House, Newark, provides accommodation and support for up to 15 homeless people. It also provides vulnerable people with support and advice to help them address their problems and plan for the future with training, education and volunteering opportunities to help them live independently.

Fernanda was sponsored by colleagues and friends, who donated to the charity and cheered her on during the shaving.

Collectively, they raised nearly £800 for Framework.

Caron Blair, service manager at Russell House, said: “This type of kind donation will mean some of the most vulnerable people in society will get additional support to help them get back into playing a role in such a supportive community.

“We support more than 60 service users here in Newark and we are extremely grateful for such a personal donation that will help us to continue to do our job. A massive thanks from all the people that live and work at Russell House."

As well as donating to support her, some of Fernanda’s colleagues at Duncan & Toplis also took turns to wield the razor. Among them was deputy managing director Ian Phillips.

“We were all very moved by Fernanda’s decision to raise money in memory of her friend and because Framework does such a lot of good work in the Newark area, we gave her our full support,” he said.

“Fernanda is a great part of our team and the whole office dug deep and cheered her on. Having braved the shave myself some years ago ­— although sadly not for charity ­— I have to admit that it’s quite nice to no longer be the only person on the team without hair.”

For more information about the charity’s work in Newark, go to www.frameworkha.org.uk