Accountancy firm Duncan and Toplis raise money for Beaumond House Community Hospice

Staff at an accountancy firm in Newark have gone bright blue to help with an annual campaign to raise money for Beaumond House Community Hospice.

A new challenge for the Be Bright Blue Campaign this year has been to see how much teams can raise in 50 days, starting with a £50 note.

Duncan and Toplis is among those to take up the accumulator challenge. They have already raised £200 and hope the total will have reached £250 by the end of the week.

Accountant Francesca Tricarico said the hospice was a charity very close to their hearts and one they support each year.

“It’s been easy raising the money because everyone has been helping out and getting involved,” she said.

“We’ve baked cakes, had a tuck shop and had a day where everybody was encouraged to come in something blue.”

Assistant accountant Holly Janaway said she had become the office baker and provided lots of different blue cakes during the challenge.

The hospice is hoping the campaign will raise more than £10,000, which will help with vital improvements.

The money is needed to refurbish some of the patient areas, both upstairs and downstairs. The aim is to create a younger and fresher feel, meeting the standards set by Infection Control, as well as their own high standards.

Community fundraising officer Cathryn Crane said some people, especially young adults, felt the hospice was a little dated.

“The hospice wants everybody who walks through the doors to feel welcome and to feel that Beaumond House is the right place for them,” she said.

“One of our priorities is to carry out the work to ensure we achieve this. Patients are at the centre of all we do at Beaumond House. We want to be best we can ­— for everyone.”

Only a third of the £1m needed by the hospice comes from the NHS

The next networking event for professionals organised by Duncan&Toplis ­— the NYP Christmas Special ­— takes place at The Atrium, on Lombard Street, Newark, on Thursday, November 29, from 6.30pm-8.30pm.

This is the tenth such event the firm has organised since its inception.

Entry is free.There is a free drink on arrival, nibbles and fun quiz with prizes to be won.

There will be two guest speakers at the event; Ann-Marie Gilbert and Ronnie Staton.

Ann-Marie is a motivational speaker.

Ronnie is a running coach, working with hundreds of clients, and a motivational speaker.

To book a place, email nyp@duntop.co.uk