SWINDON-based company Openwork recently held a community challenge to raise over £1,000 for Winston’s Wish, the charity for bereaved children.

Between February and July this year Openwork, the UK’s largest multi-tie mortgage and financial advice network, took up the challenge to fulfil an “ultimate wish-list” of 33 items by Winston’s Wish.

The firm managed to buy every item, raising money from a Valentine’s cake sale, luxury Easter hamper raffle, buffet, chilli dog sale on US Independence Day, July 4, and a summer hamper raffle.

Dawn Hanley, who works in the complaints management team at Openwork, said: “It is very rewarding to know the good that these items are going to do at Winston’s Wish.”

The list included a toy church, vicar and people as well as a model coffin, hearse and headstone to be used to discuss “what you might see at a funeral” with young children. The firm also provided a CD player to provide calming music when working with children with attention deficit disorder and a digital camera so children can record their activities.

The charity’s chief executive Catherine Ind said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive the dedicated support from Openwork and without companies like them we would not be able to do the vital work that we do at Winston’s Wish. These items will make such a difference to the work that we do with families.”