From left: Associate Freddie Howell, tax director John Shenton and excecutive Nick Clarke with Jane Allchim from CRY. Picture by Matthew Hotton

BURSTS of energy greeted everyone arriving at Ernst & Young’s offices recently, with the reception taken over by staff rowing, cycling and running on a treadmill.

Those who went to work early also had the additional surprise of seeing tax director John Shenton, associate Freddie Howell and executive Nick Clarke doing that fitness routine while wearing dresses.

Over 30 staff members took part in the event, which started at 8 am and continued until 4 pm, and their efforts were in aid of raising funds for the benefit of street children in Albania.

The company’s annual corporate responsibility week, which started on Monday, 11 May, was dedicated to supporting the charity Care and Relief for the Young (CRY), who have two shops in New Street.

The dresses worn by the male staff for the event had been selected especially from the rails of the CRY shop to promote the clothing they sell there.

The charity raises money for children in 15 countries, including the Home of Hope in Tirana, Albania, which offers shelter, food and education to some of the country’s poorest children.

Throughout the week the company’s staff took part in a number of other fund-raising activities, including sponsored pool and Nintendo Wii tournaments, and sales of home-made food.

Nina Driscoll, from Ernst & Young, said that staff had chosen CRY as the charity to support for the week and it was likely that the sum they raised, which would be matched by the company, would reach £1,000.

‘We are delighted to assist the work of the Home of Hope in Albania and the support they give to children from very poor families,’ she said.

CRY administrator Jane Allchin said that they were grateful that Ernst & Young staff had chosen them to benefit from their fund-raising week.

‘Home of Hope enables children who have had a difficult start in life to integrate into the Albanian school system and build a better life for themselves,’ she said.

The charity is always grateful to receive unwanted clothing, linen, bric-a-brac, books and other items, as well as furniture, for which they have a collection service. Information about the charity is available by calling 618497.

Tax director John Shenton, associate Freddie Howell and excecutive Nick Clarke with the dresses they wore to promote the CRY shops