SIX Cheshire charities have received a £1,000 Christmas gift thanks to the Benefact Group.

During the financial services group's annual '12 Days of Giving' campaign, charities across the UK were nominated to share £120,000 of financial aid. Over 5,000 Cheshire residents cast their votes with 4,700 different charitable causes in the area receiving nominations.

The Joshua Tree, which supports families affected by childhood cancer and Seashell Trust, a learning disability and autism charity, will both benefit from the money, as will; homeless charity Chance Changing Lives, the Oldie Club, the Hospice of the Good Shepherd and The Friends of Whitegate School.

The 120 winning charities across the UK were picked at random from those nominated.

Thanking supporters in Cheshire, Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: "Charitable giving is at the heart of our business at the Benefact Group. We are delighted to be giving back to deserving charitable causes once more with our annual 12 Days of Giving Christmas campaign, part of our Movement for Good Awards. In these challenging times, we know that £1,000 can make a real difference and we’re looking forward to seeing how this festive financial boost will changes lives for the better and bring a positive start to 2023.

"Charitable giving is at the heart of our business at the Benefact Group. We are delighted to be giving back to deserving charitable causes once more with our annual 12 Days of Giving Christmas campaign, part of our Movement for Good Awards.

"In these challenging times, we know that £1,000 can make a real difference and we’re looking forward to seeing how this festive financial boost will changes lives for the better and bring a positive start to 2023.

"Out of some five million companies in the UK, we are the fourth largest corporate donor and have an ambition to be the largest. As a Group of financial service businesses, uniquely owned by a charity, all available profits go to good causes, and the more our loyal customers support us to grow, the more the Group can give. As a company, our purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society and, together, we can help many good causes to continue their support for those who need it most in these difficult times."

The full list of the 120 charity winners is available to view online at: www.movementforgood.com/12days.