Employees and customers of the Essex-based retailer raised a huge £34,320 for Kids Inspire.

Paula Ashfield, Events & Corporate Fundraising Manager for Kids Inspire, said;

“We are absolutely thrilled with this funding from Chelmsford Star, and are so pleased to have worked with them at a number of events over the last year. This money will cover the rental costs of our offices for a whole year, and without these premises we would be severely limited in the amount of support we could offer children who really need the extra help”.

We would like to extend a huge heartfelt ‘thank you’ to customers, members and colleagues of Chelmsford Star Co-operative who contributed, in their food, funeral, travel and Quadrant department stores. Collecting tins, raffles, book sales and shopping evenings all helped towards the figure raised, along with the funds collected by a Chelmsford Star team – including Cooper the Bear – who ran at this year’s Brentwood Half Marathon.