WORKMATES have collected more than £16,000 for a children’s charity during a year of fundraising.

Staff at the Meadowfield-based developer The Banks Group generated £16,500 for Integrating Children over 12 months, undertaking challenges including the Druridge Bay 10km run in Northumberland, the Total Warrior event in Leeds, the Great North Run and a zip wire across the River Tyne from the top of the Baltic arts centre.

There have also been “dress down Fridays”, cake bakes, coffee mornings, tuck shop sales and a sponsored walk around Hamsterley Forest.

The total is a record for the company for one year.

Integrating Children, based in Chester-le-Street, helps disabled young people take part in mainstream activities, such as sport, music and cinema, theatre, shopping or restaurant trips, to encourage friendships, life skills and confidence.

It staff work with up to 100 young people a year and offering more than 10,000 activity hours per year, both during term time and school holidays.

Lucy Hinds, procurement co-ordinator at The Banks Group whose brother Rob benefits from the charity’s work, said: “The response we’ve had right across the business to this fundraising drive has been amazing and it’s fantastic to see everyone’s efforts resulting in such an impressive amount being donated to this great local cause.”

Richard Taylor, chair of Integrating Children, said: “I am utterly delighted at the final sum raised by The Banks Group employees for Integrating Children.

“As a small charity, this enormous sum will enable us to sustain and expand activities for disabled children and young people.”

For more information on Integrating Children, visit integratingchildren.co.uk