ACCOUNTANTS have a reputation for being bean counters.

But that’s not the reason by Old Town firm Haines Watts are collecting for the Swindon Foodbank this month.

After supporting cancer charity Macmillan, the chartered accountancy firm wanted to support a cause a little closer to home.

Martin Gurney, tax partner at the firm, said: “We support a charity every year – and we like it to be a local charity.

“We’ve supported Macmillan quite a lot recently, because a number of our friends and colleagues have been touched by cancer.

“But this year we wanted to do something different. We like the idea of the foodbank. We’re all in a fairly privileged position here and we felt that the foodbank was a very good cause.”

Managing partner Mike Lloyd added: “As a Swindon business we feel it’s important to give back to our community.”

Items donated so far to the offices in Old Station House, Old Town, range from luxury biscuits to more traditional staples like coffee and sugar.

“People in restricted circumstances deserve a bit of luxury,” said Martin.

Haines Watts have persuaded other businesses to collect for Swindon Foodbank, with collection points popping up at Bevirs Solicitors in Regent Circus and Gemini House on the Groundwell Industrial Estate in North Swindon.

This year, the Adver is encouraging shoppers to buy a little extra this Christmas.

Swindon Foodbank, which last year handed out 47 tonnes of food, is urgently calling for donations of potatoes, tinned puddings, sugar, tinned meat, toothpaste, shower gel and shampoo.

Manager Cher said: “We’ve got just enough to get us over Christmas, but we’re going to run out by January.”

Demand for the foodbank’s essential services is growing, managers said. In 2011 they fed 3,760 people and in 2016 it was 4,619.

Samantha Stapley of the Trussell Trust – to whose foodbank network Swindon Foodbank belongs – said: “Foodbank use is increasing and we’re worried people will be going hungry over Christmas.

“The stories you hear at foodbanks can be heartbreaking – mums who are going hungry for days so their children can eat or families left to sit in the dark so they can have a hot meal. “

You can donate food, toiletries and other Christmas goodies by leaving them at the Swindon Advertiser’s Victoria Road office or at any of the Swindon Foodbank’s donation points at larger supermarkets.

To get support from Swindon Foodbank, call 01793 686510 or visit one of their centres. Full details are available from: swindon.foodbank.org.uk.