IT WAS one of the Cumberland Building Society’s favourite times of the year yesterday as staff put on their festive attire for work to raise money for disadvantaged local children.

Teams across all branches in Cumbria are raising money for CFM’s Cash for Kids mission Christmas and have done for a number of years now.

The building society staff went to work in their finest festive knits and indulged in bake sale extravaganzas, with all money raised going directly to Cash For Kids to ensure every child in the local area has a present to wake up to on Christmas day.

A number of the team are also taking advantage of the charity day to spend the day helping Sara sort through the gifts at Arco.

Debbie Shearer, head of branch sales, said: “We’re really proud to be supporting this appeal, something we’ve supported for a number of years.

“The work and effort Sara, Katie and the team at CFM put in every year to ensure that thousands of children from our local communities don’t wake up without a present on Christmas morning is incredible and it’s the dedication that they have to help children across our region that really inspires us to get involved and help in any small way we can.

“We also find that because this is a local charity benefitting local children our customers also really engage with it.”

Staff greeted customers dressed as elves, Mr Claus, Mrs Claus and Rudolf in their bid to raise as much money to help children who may have woken up on Christmas day to nothing.

Sophie Byers, assistant branch manager for the English Street branch, said: “It’s really amazing to know that the money we are raising is helping disadvantaged kids and local children, it’s really important to us.”

As well as hosting their own Christmas Jumper Day, all of the Cumberland’s branches across the region have signed up to be drop off points for the Mission Christmas appeal.

Debbie Shearer, said: “We’re really keen to try and make a positive difference in our communities and the Mission Christmas appeal does exactly that.

“It’s a privilege to help such a great cause and we’d encourage as many people and businesses as possible to support the appeal and help make Christmas a little bit more special for disadvantaged children around our region.”

Drop off points have now been set up in The Cumberland Building Society branches in Carlisle, Wigton, Maryport, Workington, Whitehaven and more. All drop off points can be found at www.cumberland.co.uk/about/branch-finder.

CFM Cash For Kids are asking members of the public to buy an extra gift when Christmas shopping and drop it off at anyone one of the donation points across Cumbria. The last day you can donate toys is Friday December 14 and presents will be distributed until December 21.