Washington Galleries staff football tournament nets £600 for Grace House

Security staff swapped uniforms for jerseys to take part in a charity football tournament which raised hundreds of pounds for a Sunderland children's centre.
Grace House receive funds from Washington Galleries.Grace House receive funds from Washington Galleries.
Grace House receive funds from Washington Galleries.

Four, five-a-side football teams from Washington Galleries Security and Cleaning Teams, police and Sainsbury’s Washington staff, took part in a charity tournament at the new Washington Leisure Centre, to raise money for Grace House short break and respite care for children and young people.

After victories by the Cleaning Team over the Police, and Sainsbury’s Washington over the Security Guards, the two winners played in the final, with the Cleaning Team coming through as overall champions.

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A total of £620 has now been passed on to the respite centre.

Dean Haswell, who works in the Security team at the Galleries and played for his department’s team in the tournament, said: “When the new leisure centre opened at Washington Galleries there were new five-a-side football courts, and the four departments thought it would be a good idea to organise a tournament.

“We all paid £10 each, plus raised additional sponsorship money, we wanted to support a local charity and decided that Grace House would receive our fundraising money.

“Washington Galleries have also donated a £100 gift voucher that we would like to donate too.”

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Karen Maclennan, senior fundraiser at Grace House, said: “I am delighted that Grace House was chosen to benefit from the charity football tournament.

“Well done to the Cleaning Team for winning and thank you to everyone who took part.

“We have some ambitious plans for 2016 at Grace House, and the money raised will help make a disabled child’s stay at Grace House truly special.”

Grace House children’s charity welcomes children and young people from across the North East, with complex disabilities, health needs and life-limiting conditions.