Sunderland call centre staff get ready for Sport Relief

Sunderland call centre staff are getting in shape for Sport Relief.
Council leader Coun Paul Watson with volunteer Danielle Walton in 2014.Council leader Coun Paul Watson with volunteer Danielle Walton in 2014.
Council leader Coun Paul Watson with volunteer Danielle Walton in 2014.

The city council’s Customer Contact Centre has been acting as a volunteer pledge centre for the biennial charity event since 2009.

Last time round it handled an estimated 2,500 calls and coordinated donations worth more than £67,000.

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This year, more than 80 employees have volunteered to man 75 telephone lines between 7pm and midnight.

Cabinet Secretary, Coun Mel Speding is also one of those taking calls.

Volunteers will be entering into the spirit with team competitions, games and fancy dress.

Deputy Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Alan Emerson is also attending to cheer volunteers on.

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Coun Emerson said: “It’s fantastic to see so many of our employees willing to give up their Friday night to volunteer for such a worthy cause.

“This is a very special event which raises lots of money for charities both here and abroad.

“We’re incredibly proud of our staff and the way they always pull out all the stops to support events like Sport Relief and Red Nose Day.”

Sports Relief runs on alternate years with the Red Nose Day appeal to annually raise millions of pounds for charity.

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This is the seventh year running that employees from Sunderland City Council have been involved in taking telephone pledges and donations on Sport Relief and Comic Relief.

Money raised by Sport Relief provides aid for people across Africa and also helps poor and disadvantaged people and communities across the UK.