A FINANCIAL planning firm in Highworth is lending its support to a local charity by linking donations to mortgages.

Directors of Dandelion Financial, Andy Carter and Sarah Watch, have been providing local residents and those further afield with professional financial advice since January 2014.

After helping those make the most of the finances they have decided to give something back to the local Highworth Debt Centre to help lift others out of poverty.

Every time the team at Dandelion arrange a mortgage or remortgage for a client, they make a £25 donation from their fee to Christians Against Poverty (CAP) which has a branch near their High Street offices and provides free, professional debt advice to local people and has trained counsellors who provide home visits to help people in debt come up with a budget to pay off their bills.

Dandelion Directors Andy Carter and Sarah Watch, both independent financial advisers, said they wanted to support a local charity and CAP fitted the bill.

“We feel it’s important to support local people and charities and have previously sponsored Coleshill Junior Football Club and local individuals taking part in charitable events, including the London Marathon and London to Paris cycle ride,” said Sarah, who recently qualified as an equity release adviser.

“We wanted to support the worthwhile advice the CAP team continue to provide local residents, because we strongly believe that financial advice is for everybody.”

Kathryn Ford of CAP said: “As a charity we rely on donations and fundraising both nationally and locally. Our service keeps families together, relieves stress, restores health, keeps families in their homes, provides friendship and can provide connection to the community.”

CAP is Dandelion’s charity of the year throughout the current financial year and so far £400 has been raised through donations.