LOCAL charity, Home-Start Hampshire (Weywater), is looking for businesses to accept the challenge of growing money for its work in the Alton, Bordon and Liphook areas.

Participating businesses will be given an amount of money and can use any method they like to grow it – cake sales, raffles, book sales, staff challenges are all possibilities.

According to Home-Start local action team chair, Ann Foulkes, the emphasis is on using your “imagination and business skills to create original ways of growing the money.”

In return, each successful business will receive “a certificate to display, publicity on the Home-Start website and the knowledge that they have helped local families”.

Leading the way with the initiative is The George in Alton, where landlady, Susannah Stredder, and her team where given £50 and have so far grown it to £350.

The money came via a family fun day in the summer followed by live music in the evening.

The final push will take place this Friday with a pyjama party and teddy bear raffle, plus a sweepstake for a £25 voucher for a meal at The George.

Home-Start Hampshire (Weywater) provides free, confidential and non-judgmental support for families with at least one child under the age of 11 where the family are experiencing problems.

So far this year the charity has supported 45 families individually, in addition to the 20 families who have attended a local family group. Home-Start’s trained volunteers work with families in their own homes, visiting once a week.

To find out more about the accumulator challenge email [email protected] or call Ann on 01420 362637. For more information on Home-Start visit [email protected]