A COCKERMOUTH auction company is helping to raise funds for a struggling local charity.

Mitchells Auction Company will show its support for the Lake District Calvert Trust - which has been hit hard by Ccovid - by auctioning items donated to the charity through its Cockermouth saleroom.

Its new head of antiques, fine art and furniture, Michael Roberts, has offered to support the charity by auctioning donated items.

For over 40 years, the Lake District Calvert Trust has been facilitating safe accessible and challenging outdoor activities for people with disabilities from their residential centre near Keswick. However, a substantial fall in bookings due to the pandemic has meant a serious drop in income which is now threatening future operations.

Fundraising manager Jennifer Scott said: “Our charitable activities have been dramatically impacted by Covid-19. With a four-month closure due to lockdown and reduced capacity since, we have lost over £1m of fee income this year.

“After fundraising and cost savings we are still looking at a shortfall of £400,000 this year.

“We are already being impacted by the second wave of the virus which will have a drastic effect on the trust and the essential service we provide for people with disabilities in the coming year.

“We are extremely grateful to Mitchells for their support with this fundraising event and to everyone who is able to donate or bid on items.”

The charity has already received several unusual and one-off donated items to be sold. Mitchells is asking for more people to donate items of value at its saleroom.

An illustrated catalogue can be viewed online at www.the-saleroom.com/mitchells from November 12. The auction will run online from November 14 to 28 and include a special live online sale.