SWINDON-BASED law firm Royds Withy King has donated £25,750 to its charity partner Melanoma UK.

The company has supported the skin cancer patient support and advocacy group for the last two years by hosting bake sales, dress-down days and charity walks for the firm’s lawyers and staff.

Colleagues heavily supported a Winter Appeal which ran in December last year while three of the staff – Jessica Burston, Ali Cloak and Fran Tremeer – joined a challenging trek to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in February 2020.

Solicitor Sophie Webb chairs Royds Withy King’s charities group. She said: “It’s been a particularly tough time for charities in the past year so we’re thrilled to donate the proceeds of our campaign.

“Our staff and partners vote for a charity to support in each of our regions every two years. It’s a brilliant opportunity to make a tangible difference, with a focus on raising money and doing something practical too.

"Our charity partners play an important role in the communities where we live and work so it means a lot to us to be able to support them.

“We encourage everyone at our firm to take advantage of the two paid volunteering days that they are given every year to provide practical support to a charity of their choice. We work firm-wide with community foundations across our regions to deliver grants from endowed funds.”

Melanoma UK CEO Gillian Nuttall said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the teams at Royds Withy King over the last two years.

"Despite the difficulties that Covid 19 created, they continued their fundraising efforts for us and their other chosen charities.

“Many people don’t realise that 82% of charities in the UK are small organisations and many don’t receive any government funding. So when Royds Withy King offered their support, we recognised the potential impact that support would have on our charity.

“We are truly grateful for the amazing support.”

Last month, colleagues at the firm’s Swindon office selected the Swindon Food Collective as their new charity partner for 2021-2023 after a staff vote. The charity helps to feed the poor and vulnerable.