STAFF at Nationwide got into the philanthropic spirit yesterday by holding a fundraiser for children’s leukaemia charity CALM.

The building society’s Parade branch saw a pop-up cake stall erected in the lobby, giving customers a much-appreciated sweet treat as they signed their cheque books.

It’s all part of the company’s desire to reach out to the community and try to raise as much cash as they possibly can for worthwhile causes.

Branch manager Lindsey Turnbull and customer representative Kelly Marriott were the driving forces behind the charity day and the pair have lined up plenty of fundraisers for the coming year.

A passionate Lindsey said: “I was really inspired by the good work that CALM does and I felt we should give something back.

“Even though I haven’t experienced losing a child, I think it’s very important and it’s something that touches a lot of people.

“We want to integrate ourselves into the community by helping different charities, and this is a great way of doing that.”

Staff from all three Swindon branches were involved in the fundraiser, which was a good chance for the company’s star bakers to put their talents to the test.

“The staff have been great and have really got on board with it,” said Lindsey. “Everyone is really passionate about raising money for the charity.

“We are not just a building society, we are building things to last. It’s not just about coming into the building society and opening an account, we want to reach out to the local community.”

On May 18, the team is running a quiz night for CALM at the County Ground. They are expecting a big turnout, with 45 tables – five people per table – at £5 per head.

Nationwide staff will also be helping out at the Swindon Half Marathon in September.

Kelly said: “CALM is an amazing charity and it’s a privilege to be supporting them. I am quite passionate about charity fundraising and I will do my utmost to raise as much as we can.”

CALM is a charity run by parents who have all experienced what it is like to have a child diagnosed with cancer. It helps families that have a child receiving treatment at the Great Western Hospital and is fully funded by generous donations.

Commenting on the amount of beautifully-crafted sweet treats on display, Lindsey said: “We have gone really OTT with the cakes today, and the feedback from customers has been fantastic.”

To enter the quiz in May, call 0800 5540743 or visit one of Swindon’s Nationwide branches.