Access Accountings Charity of the Year campaign raises over £8000 for Stepping Stones

Colchester, UK - 18th April 2008  - Access Accounting has raised more than 8,000 for Colchester-based Stepping Stones Play and Learn Group as part of its 2007 'Charity of the Year' campaign.

Staff at the award-winning business software house organised a broad range of activities to raise funds for the nursery, which has provided educational and therapeutic activities for children with special needs for more than 17 years. The fundraising activities included a live wine and champagne auction, singing lessons and a Smoothie Bar; one brave member of staff agreed to shave off his beard, raising 500 alone.

John Beech, managing director for Access Accounting, commented, "Stepping Stones provides an invaluable service and one deserving of support. As a company we match the funds raised by staff to help boost their efforts in contributing to the local community."

Stepping Stones will move into new premises next to their current location at the Wilson Marriage Centre, Colchester in June this year. Carol Nice, group co-ordinator for Stepping Stones, said, "We're highly delighted with the support we've received from Access Accounting, which will help to provide a new sensory soft play area. We look after more than 80 children during the course of a week and provide a lifeline to parents needing support and respite. The assistance we receive from the local community is vital to ensuring organisations such as ours continue to survive."

Access Accounting has recently announced its 'Charity of the Year' for 2008 as St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich.

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