Accountants HB&O pledges support to CORD

International charity CORD, based in Leamington Spa, will be the focus of fundraising by Harrison Beale and Owen throughout the year.

Mark Ashfield, a director at Leamington-based HB&O, which has worked closely with CORD for the past 14 years after acting as auditors, said the firm was delighted to develop the links further.

“Thanks to our relationship with CORD we have witnessed at close quarters the effects of the important work the charity carries out in these war-ravaged nations,” he said.

“With this in mind we wanted to do everything we could to support them, and this seemed like the next logical step.

“We are delighted to have named CORD as our chosen charity for the year and we are looking forward to working closely with them on a number of projects which should help to promote the charity’s work and raise valuable funds in the process.”

CORD works in conflict zones by rebuilding communities and homes, providing education and promoting peace.

Established in 1967, the charity employs 13 people and carries out work through a network of about 900 people based in Burundi, Chad, Northern Uganda and Cambodia.

Brian Wakley, chief executive of CORD, said: “We are extremely pleased that Harrison Beale and Owen has decided to lend its support to CORD.

“It is a fantastic arrangement, because as well as providing extra funds for the charity, events organised by HB&O also allow us to gain additional exposure with their staff and clients.

“It also frees up our own staff to focus on charity work rather than organising fundraising events, which is extremely important to us, as we have a relatively small team.”