Evesham-based berry grower and supplier, Angus Soft Fruits has chosen local charity Touchstones as its official charity partner with staff set to take part in a variety of fundraising activities.

Touchstones is a small charity that supports children and young people affected by bereavement living across North East Worcestershire. It offers free one-to-one support and weekend experiences for local children and young people who have lost someone they love, while also providing highly trained volunteers to help relieve the mental and physical suffering of children and young people struggling with the loss of someone they love.

So far, the team based at the Angus Soft Fruits’ warehouse and packing facility in Salford Priors have organised an Easter raffle and shown off their culinary skills in the ‘Great Angus Soft Fruits Bake Off’ to raise money for the charity. The company has also donated fresh fruit for several fundraisers as well as the charity’s Touchstones Days, where bereaved children and young people take part in group activities which helps normalise their grief and allows them to develop a network of friends with shared experiences.

Last week, Angus Soft Fruits staff took part in the UK’s biggest inflatable obstacle course, tackling 15 giant hurdles over five kilometres at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Jill Witheyman, Marketing Manager at Angus Soft Fruits, said: “Touchstones is such a fantastic charity providing life-changing support to children and young people going through the tragedy of bereavement, and as a company we wanted to do our bit to support the incredible work they do in the local community. The Angus Soft Fruits team did a fantastic job completing the inflatable 5K obstacle course last week, and we’ve got even more fundraising activities organised including a Best and Worst Tie competition and another Angus Soft Fruits Bake Off to raise as much money as possible for Touchstones.”

As well as giving bereaved young people emotional support and guidance, Touchstones also advises families and schools on how to support children and young people through bereavement.

Vicki Quarton, Bereavement Services Director at Touchstones, said: “We are very pleased that the wonderful staff at Angus Soft Fruits have chosen to raise money for Touchstones this year and to hear how well the team’s fundraising is going so far. It is thanks to generous donations such as these that we are able to continue our vital work, helping children and young people get through the pain of losing a loved one and restoring their hope in the future.

“While the support we provide is largely one to one, our Touchstones group activity days are hugely significant in helping to normalise grief so that our children and young people realise they are not alone. Angus Soft Fruits kind donation of fresh fruit went down a treat and brought such a big smile to the children’s faces.”