FIRMS are being urged to help light up Christmas for the needy.

The pioneering Employee Community Involvement project run by Blackburn Partnership is looking for help from the business world to take on a series of Christmas Challenges.

Challenges range from entertaining homeless people at a festive party, distributing toys to children at a women's refuge and visiting old people living on their own.

"After the outstanding success of last year's campaign we are keeping the same theme but hope to build upon its success by helping even more people," said Wendy Hobson, project manager.

"Christmas should be a time of family and fun but in reality for many people old and young it is lonely and miserable.

"By becoming involved companies can make a huge contribution to easing some of the hardship and difficulties felt by many people in the Blackburn and Darwen areas."

The Employee Community Involvement project acts as a broker between needy causes and employers.

Anyone interested in taking part should contact Wendy on 01254 661166 or email at info@blackburn

partnership.org.uk

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