A charity that gives life-changing opportunities to vulnerable young people has been given a £17k leg up by a construction firm's staff.

Workers at Beard’s head office in Swindon decided to support the Youth Adventure Trust last year and pledged to raise £3,600.

But after a year of fund-raising challenges, which included nine staff completing the gruelling Ten Peaks Challenge, 14 taking part in the punishing Tough Mudder run, events like dress down days and a series of office contests, they had doubled their target and raised £7,000 with more than a month to go before the end of the year.

The Beard Charitable Foundation, a trust established five years ago to celebrate the company's125th anniversary added a further £10,00 to the donation.

Swindon director Jamie Harwood said: “The welfare of our young people, and the communities in the areas where we live and work, has never been more important than in today’s challenging times.

“Our commitment this year has been a rewarding experience and has provided opportunities not just for the youth of Wiltshire, but also our own people, to challenge themselves for the better.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed supporting the trust in such an active way and I’m very grateful to all those who helped to raise these much-needed funds that will make a genuine difference to the lives of vulnerable children.”

The adventure trust works with children between the ages of 11 and 16 in Swindon and Wiltshire, using outdoor adventure and a one-to-one approach, to inspire and empower them to build confidence, develop social and life skills and achieve beyond their expectations.

Beard’s donation will fund 13 youngsters through a year-long programme. Philippa Cox, the trust's corporate partnership manager, added: “It’s always amazing when a company goes above and beyond what you expect and Beard has done exactly that. They have truly shared their values by helping vulnerable young people to challenge themselves for better.”