A BUSINESS community partnership has successfully arranged £2 million worth of support for charities and community groups.

Connect Reading celebrated the milestone, having been a part of the town for more than 15 years.

Many of Reading’s big businesses meet their corporate social responsibility objectives through their membership with Connect Reading.

Kirsti Wilson, managing director, said: “Our members are truly amazing and do so much for Reading.

"Whether it’s a printer for a local charity in need, a skilled volunteer to provide HR advice, a free venue for trustee training or a team of people to prepare food parcels, they always come up trumps and genuinely have a passion to do good things for their local community.

"It’s fantastic that – in 15 years – we have been able to support charities in Reading to the tune of £2million; that’s an average of over £133,000 a year since 2013.

"Local businesses have donated over £105,000 of support alone just since last April, and we are very grateful to all the companies over the years who have given their time, resources and support to our projects and to help the local community.”