Staffordshire call centre to handle phone donations for Comic Relief

Up to 120 volunteers from SBS Insurance Services in Beecroft Road, Cannock, will be manning the phones on March 13 to take calls from people across the UK donating money to the charity.

It's the second time the company has taken part in such event, after answering 1,800 phone calls to raise £42,000 for Sport Relief in 2014.

Technical Director of SBS Insurance, Paul Fairbrass, said: "We are really excited at the prospect of opening our offices for the use of telephone donations.

"The company will open as normal on the day, but most of team will continue through the evening, taking telephone donations from 7pm until midnight.

"It is going to be a very long day, but for such a good cause and everyone is really keen to participate.

"We also have many local schools arranging drawing competitions and lots of local businesses have agreed to help with donations and food and drink for the team during the evening."

The business also has fundraising plans of their own including a bake sale, upcoming sponsored dog walk and a trek up mount Snowdon in Wales.

Last year, for Sport Relief, SBS Insurance raised around £1,200 in their own donations but are looking to exceed that total this time around.

Tracey Wright, Quality Assessor, said: "We're looking to beat the £1,500 mark in our donations this year.

"We are going to be doing loads of stuff to raise money. While we are busy on the phones downstairs, there will be lots going upstairs including a tombola, cake sale, karaoke and face painting.

She added: "It will be a very long and chaotic evening I'm sure but great fun too and all for a very good cause."