DEVIZES based charity Community First has launched a new fundraising guide as part of its 50th birthday celebrations to encourage more people to raise money.

The guide has an A to Z of different ways people can fundraise, from karaoke to swishing parties.

To kickstart the fundraising the staff from the charity, based on the Hopton Industrial Estate, held a 50 shades of green day last week raising almost £100.

Kate Morris, communications and service support at Community First, said: “The fundraising guide has been produced to give people in the community achievable ways to have fun by getting together to raise funds.

“Staff here are now looking at various ways of fundraising suggested by our guide, and one of our community organisers, Katrina Watson, has decided to offer 50 hugs.”

As the guide is part of the charity’s 50/50 campaign for its 50th birthday it is looking for people to organise events, with 50 per cent going to Community First and 50 per cent to the fundraisers' own organisation or charity of choice.

Sharon Wooley, head of communication and fundraising, said: “We want more people to get involved and this guide is full of fun and easy ways to fundraise.

“We have distributed 700 guides so far, not including online, so lots of people will now be able to use it to help them plan events.

“We do want to hear from people if they are planning to hold Community First birthday events, so do get in touch via phone, email or social media.”

The new guide was produced and printed for free by Nationwide, which has renewed its partnership with the charity for a further 12 months and will be supporting fundraising efforts and communications.

The building society has been working with Community First since last May, by supporting the charity with its birthday campaign along with providing strategic planning.

A downloadable electronic version of guide is available online at http://www.communityfirst.org.uk/about-us/50th-anniversary?view=employee&id=26 or fundraisers can email swoolley@communityfirst.org.uk if they would like a hard copy.