Two Bath charities have received £1,000 each thanks to a generous stallholder at last year’s Christmas Market.
DSC Events Catering, which has been a staple at the event for many years, donated the money to Challenge Africa and Bath Child Contact Centre after they were picked as winners in a draw for all the charities that took part in the market, pictured.
Representatives from the charities met the Bath & North East Somerset Council chair Cllr Sarah Moore after their names were picked by her predecessor Cllr Shaun Stephenson McGall earlier this year.
Challenge Africa aims to support communities on the continent to become self-sufficient. It has used its prize money to fund its work combatting the outbreak of diseases, including one area that recently suffered a severe cholera outbreak.
The money has funded a school kitchen with clean water to reduce the risk of children contracting this deadly disease.
Challenge Africa founder and CEO Eleanore Dickson said: “We were delighted to receive this generous donation from DSC Catering – it is fitting that it has gone to directly fund a kitchen with clean water, something we all can take for granted.”
Bath Child Contact Centre, based in Walcot Street, provides supported contact for separated families and has used the money to update its resources, including its toys for children to play with.
Bath Child Contact Centre trustee Ruth Whitemore said: “It was great to meet the chair of the council to explain the work we do as a local charity.
“This money has already made a big difference to us and to the children and families we support.”
Bath Christmas Market will this year work with Hallmark Care Homes to bring back the second of two charity chalets previously available for sponsorship.
This means more than 35 charities are expected to use the two chalets – in Milsom Street and outside the Guildhall - to promote themselves.
Cllr Moore said: “We have so many great people in our community doing some amazing charity work and so I was pleased to meet Ruth and Eleanore to help champion both causes.
“But the big thanks have to go to DSC Events Catering for such an amazing donation.”
Bath Christmas Market, which is regularly named as one of the best in the UK, returns this year on November 23 and will run for 18 days to December 10.
Official figures for last year showed it attracted an estimated 426,000 visitors in total – up from 403,000 the last time it was held in 2019.
Their spending helped boost the city’s economy by an estimated £50m – a 61% increase on 2019, making it the most successful in its 20-year history.
Pictured, from left: Council chair’s escort Shaun Moore, Bath Child Contact Centre trustee, Ruth Whitemore, council chair cllr Sarah Moore and Challenge Africa founder and CEO& Eleanore Dickson
