Children’s cash

An open house day in Kelso when three independent businesses – Itsy Bitsy, Decoupage & Dining and Jeannie Bags – donated 10 per cent of their takings, and raised £590 from teas and donations for teas.

This month’s Arty Farty Fayre near Jedburgh, organised by cook, butler and mother’s help recruiter Cindy Webster, and artist Clare Brownlow, raised a further £1,059. Ms Webster said: “Clare and I and all of the stallholders were so thrilled with the generosity towards BCC shown by our shoppers. We were also delighted with their support by shopping locally.”

And Wedderburn Castle near Duns gave £100 raised from afternoon tea donations at its annual wedding fair.

BCC chairperson Bronwyn Coggan said requests for help from the charity increase in the run-up to Christmas: “This time of year puts an immense amount of pressure on families to provide for their children.

“And what’s incredible is that many of these requests are for beds, bedding, clothes and shoes – basic necessities that no child in the Borders should do without.”

Donations made to the volunteer-run local charity go towards clothing, shoes, bedroom furniture, special equipment and funding for disability needs, holidays for child carers and helping Borders children in stressful or abusive situations.