HEREFORDSHIRE and Worcestershire's largest social landlord has raised funds for a Hereford based charity.

Fortis Living's Loving Later Life team have donated £144 to the Hereford office of The Alzheimers Society, following a series of successful events.

The team - which is made up of Alison Knowles, Community Engagement Assistant and Fiona Petts, Social Activities Assistant from Fortis Living - organised for a singing group called Sounds Familiar to attend a number of parties in Droitwich, Worcester, Ledbury and Malvern.

Sandra Clements from Ledbury-based Sounds Familiar said: "We were delighted to be invited along to sing for Fortis customers. We decided that rather than be paid for our services we would prefer donations to be made towards a good cause. To date we have raised more than £2000 for The Alzheimers Society."

Sounds Familiar was set up by a group of friends in Ledbury who like to sing. Currently there are 15 members; they sing at local nursing homes and care homes, encouraging their audiences to join in.

Emma Butler, community fundraiser, West Midlands from The Alzheimers Society said : "We are so grateful to Fortis Living and Sounds Familiar for the funds raised for our care. It remains a sad fact that dementia is the UK's biggest killer. With help and support like this we are able to confront this health and social care challenge, for which there is no known cure."

Chris Reed, community engagement team leader said: "We are always delighted to be involved in raising funds for local good causes. Dementia is most commonly an older person's disease so it was fitting that donations were made by our more senior customers. Well done to everyone involved!"

Fortis Living is part of Platform Housing Group which provides more than 45,000 homes from Herefordshire in the West to the Lincolnshire coast in the East, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the North to the Cotswolds in the South.

To find out about The Loving Later Life over 55s activities and trips please visit fortisliving/55.

To find out about Sounds Familiar please contact Sandra Clements on 01531 632801 or email her at skclements@talktalk.net