Highclere Society presents cheque of over £1,500 to mental health charity Time to Talk West Berkshire

The Highclere Society presented a cheque of more than £1,500 to Time to Walk West Berkshire at its AGM last week.

The society’s membership of over 300 people agreed to support Time to Talk at last year’s AGM, and throughout 2023 the society has been running different initiatives to raise money for the mental health charity.

Fundraising activities run by the society include periodic raffles that use prizes donated by local businesses and a summer barbecue.

Society chairman Phil Wrigley presented a cheque of £1,522 to Tracey Leeson, a Highclere resident who works for Time to Talk, on the evening of Thursday, November 9.

Mr Wrigley said: “It is just nice to do something to help, and there was total support for Time to Talk and for the new charity as well.”

Newbury Soup Kitchen will be the charity that the society supports over the coming year after its founder and general manager Meryl Praill gave an “inspiring” talk at the AGM.

The soup kitchen’s funds will be boosted by Highclere Society’s Christmas carol singing which in previous years has supported Cancer Research UK.