Fundraisers from Prospect Hospice have extended their thanks to Swindon Town Centre shoppers for once again supporting their Christmas gift-wrapping stall and helping them to raise vital funds for the hospice.

December 2017 was the fourth time the gift-wrap stall has been held at The Brunel Shopping Centre. Each year an army of volunteers work tirelessly throughout December to wrap shoppers’ presents in exchange for a donation to the Wroughton-based charity. The total amount raised by this initiative since it started in 2014 is now over £16,000.

Hollie Ricketts, community fundraiser for Prospect Hospice, said: “We are absolutely over the moon with the amount raised this year which was an incredible £4634.89. This smashed last year’s total by £322. On behalf of Prospect Hospice I’d like to say a sincere thank you to everyone who used the gift-wrap service and made a donation.

"I would also like to thank all the volunteers that worked so hard with the wrapping. It’s always a busy time of year for everyone but they gave up their time to help and it wouldn’t be possible without them. I’d also like to thank the team at The Brunel Shopping Centre for hosting us, promoting the stall and making us welcome. The charity gift wrap stall has become an important annual fundraising event for the hospice and every penny raised goes straight into helping to care for our patients and their families.”

Jane Stewart, deputy manager of The Brunel said: “When I heard about the amount raised I was delighted. Each year the charity gift-wrap stall seems to go from strength to strength and it is great to see the initiative raising an incredible amount of money for the Hospice. We’re delighted to be involved in helping out with this important local fundraiser.”