KIND-HEARTED workers raised £200,000 to help children who struggle with reading.

McCarthy and Stone’s teams in Colchester and Chelmsford worked with national reading charity Coram Beanstalk to raise the funds.

Originally setting a target of £100,000, the teams at Lancer House and the Miami House retirement homes have helped raise double the amount it expected, following a great response from its employees, residents and partners.

Employees have also volunteered in schools.

John Tonkiss, McCarthy and Stone’s director, said: “I am immensely proud of all the fundraising efforts over the past year, from all our employees, residents and suppliers in Essex.

“It’s great that we can support Beanstalk and all the wonderful work they do in making a real difference to children’s lives, while helping to inspire the next generation of readers.

“It has been a truly remarkable year in the history of McCarthy and Stone, and we are very proud to be presenting Coram Beanstalk with a cheque for such a considerable sum.”

Ginny Lunn, managing director for Coram Beanstalk, said it was a phenomenal fundraising achievement.

She added: “McCarthy and Stone’s wonderful employees and residents have gone to great lengths and worked very hard this past year to raise £200,000 for us.

“We would like to say a sincere thank you to them all.

“The funds raised will make a real difference to thousands of children who struggle with reading and will help us expand our reach and deliver more vital reading support to children across the country who most need it.”

She added: “What has been really special about this partnership is that it has achieved much more than fundraising, it has created a lasting relationship with McCarthy and Stone, who, throughout the year, have become reading helper volunteers in schools themselves.

“This will hopefully continue beyond the year-long partnership helping us reach more children over the coming years.”

To find out more about the partnership, visit beanstalkcharity.org.uk/mccarthystone.

McCarthy and Stone is the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities.