A Hampshire financial services company got 72 of their staff to cycle from Winchester to their offices in Alton for charity.

The company Contractor Mortgages Made Easy raised more than £6,000 from the cycle which took place on the morning of July 7.

Jason Powell, CEO of financial advisory firm Contractor Mortgages Made Easy, which has offices in Alton and Whiteley led a 72-strong team on the charity cycle ride to raise money for homeless charity Depaul.

Commenting on the cycle ride and why they chose to support Depaul, Jason Powell, CEO of Contractor Mortgages Made Easy said: “The great work being undertaken by Depaul resonates with some of my own experiences as a teenager so it is a charity close to my heart.

"Depaul is key to helping young people get back on track starting by putting a safe roof over their heads. We all ended up feeling a little saddle sore at the end of the 30km bike ride but we all had homes and hot baths to go home to at the end of the day, some young people are not so fortunate.”

Roisin Moore, Community Fundraiser for the South East at Depaul said: “We’re very grateful that Contractor Mortgages Made Easy has chosen to support Depaul UK with their “Pedal for Depaul” cycle to work challenge.

"It’s a fantastic way of getting staff on board to take on a fitness initiative as well as raising funds and awareness for Depaul. The money raised will enable us to carry on with our vital work, housing and supporting some of the country’s most marginalised young people and helping them to progress from chaos and homelessness to stability and independence.

"The money raised will allow Depaul to continue vital emergency and preventative services in London & the South East, such as Nightstop, family mediation, counselling and housing advice. The contribution of companies like CMME is very important to us.”

Over the past 27 years, Depaul UK has worked with some of the most disadvantaged young people in the UK supporting communities where poverty and long-term unemployment have resulted in generations of social exclusion and high rates of homelessness.

In the last year Depaul has helped more than 3,700 young people, providing them with emergency accommodation to longer-term housing.