A Hertfordshire business community has raised more than £5,000 to help charities in the county and has pledged to continue its support.

The Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce accrued the cash for its charity of the year, Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF), over the past nine months.

Raffles were held at the Chamber’s key events last year, including the Women in Leadership Conference, Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards and its black-tie dinner, where HCF was named an honorary patron of the Chamber. All proceeds were donated to Hatfield-based HCF.

Chamber CEO Briege Leahy said: “I am delighted that we have been able to make this donation to a fantastic organisation that does so much good work within the county.”

HCF was announced as the Old Hatfield-based Chamber’s chosen charity in March last year as part of a three-year partnership that also includes the Chamber raising the organisation’s profile across the county.

The support will continue this year with fundraising taking place at the same events.

“The Chamber is approached by a lot of charities for support and we decided to go with HCF as it reaches hundreds of grassroot charities, voluntary groups and families in Hertfordshire," added Briege.

“For over 30 years HCF has worked in the community, distributing over £20m in grant support helping to tackle a broad range of social need from domestic violence to loneliness and isolation.

“To enable us to support as many charities as possible we found the best way was to support HCF, who in turn can make the donations go further as they support the whole Herts charity community in much the same way as Herts Chamber does in business support.”

Helen Gray, Foundation director for HCF, added: “At a time when local people are struggling with the cost of living, we are seeing a rise in demand for our grant-making support.

“It is only with the support of individuals, families and businesses that HCF can continue to fund small local charitable and voluntary groups.

“We are hugely grateful to the Chamber and its members for their generosity. This donation will make a positive difference to local people’s lives and in turn create stronger communities for all those that live and work in Hertfordshire.”

The Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce is based at York House in Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield. For more information on the Chamber, visit www.hertschamber.com