A CREATIVE calendar has brought 12 businesses together to raise funds for St Helena Hospice.

The organisations from Colchester’s Severalls Business and Industrial Park have joined forces to create a charity calendar as part of the Birkett Long £50 Challenge.

The tongue-in-cheek calendar will showcase a different business each month, creatively representing St Helena Hospice’s fundraising events and activities for next year.

The businesses will be trying to win the hearts of the general public to sell as many calendars as possible.

Businesses taking part include Mosaic Publicity, CCD Global Events, Newsquest, publishers of the Gazette, Edmundson Electrical, Cloud9 Business Coaching, Century Office, Wallis Shipping, Rose Calendars, Essential Selection Recruitment, Cliqq Photography, Reed Care Homes and MyRuby.

All are members of the Severalls Business Group – a community launched last September bringing together businesses to encourage networking, support and growth.

Co-founder of Severalls Business Group, Sarah Bays from Century Office, said: “What started as a bit of a joke at our first meeting has now become a reality, and we are delighted to have so many businesses from the park taking part.

“St Helena Hospice holds a special place in the hearts of businesses and residents alike, and this is a chance for us to offer our support.

“We hope to encourage other organisations on the park to take part by sponsoring advertising in the calendar, which will have been entirely produced with the support of businesses.”

The £50, provided by Birkett Long Solicitors, will go towards the production of the calendar.

Mosaic Publicity will promote the challenge and Cliqq Photography will provide studio space and professional photography.

The calendar is expected to go on sale in August.

To advertise in the calendar contact either Sarah Bays at sarah@century-office.co.uk or Sam Lindley at sam@cloud9businesscoaching.co.uk.