MORE than 30 employees put on their walking boots and trekked up to 20 miles on sponsored walks across Swindon yesterday.

Nationwide Mortgages and Savings Departments are going head to head to try and raise £5,000 for homeless charity Shelter.

The walks began at 8am yesterday and saw the first group complete the first of eight miles by mid-day arriving back to to the Pavilion opposite Nationwide's headquarters in Pipers Way.

The other team arrived back from their 20-mile walk at around 2pm.

Stephen Uden, of Nationwide, said: “This event is an excellent example of the enthusiasm and dedication shown by many employees. I have no doubt they will reach their £5,000 target and then pay for a new helpline adviser to be fully trained to offer housing advice.

“This, together with the £1.4million donation agreement we already have with Shelter, will make a real difference to those facing homelessness.”

Nationwide and Shelter have agreed a partnership until 2017 and so far they have supported more than 22,000 people.

Sam Ludkin, who helped organise the walks and is part of the Nationwide mortgage team, said: “We wanted to raise awareness. It was important that we did something to mark 50 years for Shelter but it is by no means a celebration as it would be great if Shelter no longer needed to be here.

“We have supported Shelter for many years, they do great things up and down the country but they still need our help.

“Although the walk was not competitive, the fundraising side is and it makes it better to raise funds.”

Shelter helps millions of people every year who struggle with bad housing or homelessness by offering advice, support and legal services.

A representative from Shelter, Pippa Wisbey said Shelter is extremely grateful for everything Nationwide does for the charity.

“They are one of our longest partnership of more than 15 years," she said.

"They are a massive contributor for us as an organisation.

“Although we are marking the occasion of turning 50 it is important to state that it is not a celebration because if we could not have this charity it would mean we had achieved what we are aiming for.”

Nationwide prides itself on being involved in local and national charities – three quarters of the staff do at least 14 hours of volunteering a year.

Matt Rowland, part of Nationwide savings department, said: “Any way that we can help is great. The walk was organised well and it is such an important cause to raise money for.”

According to Shelter 117 families in Britain become homeless every day and there are 60,000 homeless households.

"It was really great to be able to do the walk and raise money for a great cause. It is also another chance for us to all team build and meet people from other offices.” Said Jess Gzowska from the Nationwide Mortgage Department.