Twelve good causes get share of cash

The good causes each received £650 from proceeds raised at several charity events held over the past year by the Portsmouth Property Association (PPA), an organisation made up of local property industry professionals.

In previous years, the PPA have chosen just one nominated charity to benefit from all the proceeds of their fundraising events.

However, this year, following a conversation with the former Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Frank Jonas, association chairman Steve Cripps decided that all monies raised will be split across several local organisations which Cllr Jonas was affiliated with.

Mr Cripps said: ‘Part of our objectives for the year is to raise monies for a local charity.

‘Historically we’ve always had one charity per year but at last year’s annual dinner I was chatting to the then Lord Mayor Frank Jonas and he mentioned that he’d not been able to raise funds for 12 of his nominated charities. To that end I offered to take them on.

‘These charities while perhaps being small and little known are well worthy of support as without these donations they would continue to struggle.’

Mr Cripps and the PPA said they were delighted to step in and continue his good work.

The association held a lunch at the Brookfield Hotel in Havant Road, Emsworth, last week to mark the end of their fundraising, meet the charities and hand them each their share of the cash.

Mike Dyer, from Verisona Law, the sponsor of the PPA’s annual dinner, handed out the cheques and congratulated all the charities on the excellent work they do.

The charities included; Portsmouth Autism Support Network, QA Hospital Neonatal Unit, Groundlings Theatre, Tonic Music for Mental Health, Hilsea Lido Trust, Portsmouth Family Welfare Association, Horizon Angling Club, South East Hampshire Community Outlook, Friends Without Borders, St. Cuthbert’s Helping Hands, Charter Academy Portsmouth and Portsmouth Area Talking News.

Mr Cripps added: ‘A great time was had by all at our event. There were some very happy faces with our donation of £650 each.’