KIND hearted staff have made a difference for a brain disease charity.

For the past four years the housing team at Southampton City Council have raised over £14,000 for good causes.

This has included the latest cheque of £3,304 to the Brainstrust.

The charity was nominated by team member Sue Harrigan whose friend has a son with a brain cancer.

Dawn Baxendale, Southampton City Council’s Chief Executive and Steve Smith, Housing Services Manager, presented the cheque on behalf of the housing team to the charity’s representatives Sally and Katie Gadd on the stairs of the Civic Centre.

Mrs Baxendale said: “I am very proud of all my staff who work hard to deliver a good quality service to our residents, but I must give special praise to the housing team, who have shown a continued community commitment by raising so much money for local charities.

“Their initiative is improving the lives of many people across the city and they should be applauded for going above and beyond the call of duty.”

Ms Gadd said the money raised will go towards helping so many patients and their families.

“Well done to everyone involved and thank you for choosing us as your charity,” she said.

Other charities to have benefited in recent fundraisers include Westwood House £4,076, MNDA £3,656, Southampton Stroke Group £3,346.

The housing team have already started looking at ways to raise money for the next recipient – Wessex Cancer Trust. The reason this charity was chosen was that three women from the team were recently diagnosed with breast cancer.