A Beaconsfield accountants firm put boots on the ground to help a Chiltern foodbank.  

The team at the Beaconsfield Old Town accountants firm Azets decided to help alleviate the impact of the cost of living crisis and energy price hike on the community.

They staff took on a charity challenge to walk 13.5 miles (21.8 km) between the company’s former offices in Bourne End, High Wycombe and Amersham and the new office in Beaconsfield Old Town to raise money for Chiltern Foodbank.

With the 5-hour walk through the lush Bucks countryside, the team raised more than £4,000 – exceeding the initial £3,500 goal thanks to the kindness of 148 individuals and local companies, who raced to donate and send messages of support.

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Michelle Hazell, audit and assurance manager at Azets, said: “We all felt a great sense of achievement, we are very aware how the services of the Foodbank are so vital to an increasing number of people in the local community. 

"So it was great knowing we had managed to raise so much for the cause; the aching feet and legs were all worth it!”

Bucks Free Press: The walk through Chilterns raised thousands of pounds. The walk through Chilterns raised thousands of pounds.

Her favourite part of the day was chatting with new colleagues during the walk as “really good team building event,” she said.

The company’s three offices recently joined up in Beaconsfield.

She added: “We were very lucky with the weather and with much of the walk being across country (albeit very hilly!) it was a very nice change to our usual Friday afternoons!”

Following the event, some Azets staff will be helping with foodbank collection for Chiltern Foodbank at the Amersham Tesco Superstore at the end of June to continue supporting the charity, Ms Hazell said.

Kate Turnock, Corporate partnerships coordinator at Chiltern Foodbank, said: “Working with local companies such as Azets to support local people really brings the community together.

“It has been great to work with Azets who have walked that extra mile for the Chiltern foodbank. The cost of living crisis is showing that anyone can find themselves at crisis point for a number of different reasons.

"Chiltern foodbank don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why the money raised by Azets will provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis.”

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She urged anyone finding themselves in a crisis situation and in need of food or wanting to donate food or time through volunteering to visit the website. 

Figures by the Chesham- based foodbank show one in five of the UK population live below the poverty line.

In 2021 alone, they provided 3,192 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis.