SOLICITORS in Reading are looking for two new charities to 'adopt' for 2020.

Blandy & Blandy LLP, which has a firm on Friar Street, is seeking charities from across Berkshire and South Oxfordshire and has already received interest from more than 75 local causes.

The firm has supported Age UK Berkshire and the League of Friends of the Royal Berkshire Hospital since July 2018, having previously worked with charities including Daisy’s Dream, Reading Samaritans, Younger People with Dementia, Camp Mohawk, Thames Valley Air Ambulance and Berkshire Vision.

READ ALSO: HMV in Reading's Oracle to close.

The firm’s current charities were chosen by its staff, following applications from over 100 organisations.

Blandy & Blandy has donated over £100,000 to local charities in recent years while continuing to support causes including the Reading Santa Run, Reading Legal Walk, Reading Pancake Race, Henley in Bloom, Young Enterprise and other school events.

More than 30 of the firm’s staff also spent a day earlier this year volunteering at local foodbank, Readifood, helping to sort, pack and deliver parcels, having donated items too back in January.

Fundraising initiatives have included a popular annual quiz night, supported by 30 leading Thames Valley firms, sponsored walks, ‘bikeathons’ and ‘rowathons’, dress down days, bake sales, raffles and auctions and lunchtime events.

Over the past 18 years, the firm has also helped to raise nearly £1.5 million for Cancer Research UK, for which it received a gold award from the charity in 2019.

READ ALSO: Reading's best hairdresser - what's YOUR favourite?

Chairman, Brenda Long, said: “As one of the longest established businesses in the region, we fully appreciate and respect our role within the communities of Reading and Henley-on-Thames.

"As such, we believe that it is important to give something back by supporting local charities and causes in these areas.

"We also specialise in advising national and local charities on a wide range of commercial issues, so we understand first-hand how charities operate and the important role they play.”

Fiona Price, Chief Executive of Age UK Berkshire, added: "We have had the pleasure of working with Blandy and Blandy.

"They have been very supportive of the charity and its work.

"The charity partnership and the money raised has made a real difference, not just to Age UK Berkshire's work but to many older people throughout the Berkshire area."

If your charity would like to be considered for Blandy & Blandy’s support, please contact david.lamont@blandy.co.uk to request an application form. The application deadline is March 1, 2020.

For more information, please visit www.blandy.co.uk