THE Courtyard has kicked off its 20th anniversary year in style with two amazing fundraisers in August led by staff, stewards and Board members, raising over £4,600 in total.

Funds raised will go towards the 20th Anniversary Appeal to raise £70,000 during the anniversary year (September 2018 - August 2019) supporting venue improvement, community arts programmes and the organisation itself.

The first fundraiser featured a series of sponsored walks (24k, 10k and 5k) with staff, stewards and friends joining forces to walk together, raise money and enjoy the beautiful Herefordshire countryside.

"Staff rep, Katie Owen and I wanted to find a really inclusive fundraising activity and a sponsored walk, with different levels of difficulty, fitted the bill perfectly," explains Melanie Denning, fundraising manager (Individual Giving).

The second fundraiser was a successful outdoor cinema experience, hosted by Courtyard Board member Joanna Cobb and husband Paul at Swinmoor Farm.

Even torrential rain couldn't dampen spirits as organisers managed to switch the screening to inside a barn where the audience gathered to enjoy a screening of the classic movie The Italian Job, sponsored by Cotswold Hereford MINI and Cobb Agri.

"It started with a long convoy of MINIs that drove through Hereford with horns beeping, Union Jacks waving and lights flashing all the way to the event. This was followed by live music provided by The Hey Yahs and then the classic MINI film The Italian Job," says Joanna.

"We also had great on-site food providers, The Firebird Oven and The Starchip Enterprise, plus a well-stocked bar run by The Bridge Inn, Michaelchurch, featuring their Black Mountain Botanicals gin and fizz cocktails."

Mo Davies of High Rise Projections, who supplied the outdoor screen, said the event featured in his 'top 5' out of the 2,000 outdoor cinema events he has been to, due to its quirky last-minute barn setting and a wonderful happy atmosphere.

To find out more about the I Heart CY campaign and what you can do to get involved in fundraising, visit courtyard.org.uk/iheartcy