A local group has raised nearly £1,000 for international development charity CAFOD through fun summer fundraising.

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend the Woodchester Priory CAFOD group from Church of the Annunciation, Inchbrook, helped one of its members to host her annual Vintage Tea Party.

Over the weekend nearly 200 people attended the event, which was held in the garden of CAFOD group members Tina and Barry Hathaway in Nailsworth.

Alongside the traditional tea and cakes, they also held a raffle which raised over £800 for CAFOD.

Earlier this year, the Woodchester Priory CAFOD group organised a five mile sponsored parish walk from their church to the Woochester Mansion, where they enjoyed tea and cakes before returning with the event raising nearly £100 for CAFOD.

The group help a different one of CAFOD’s project every year, and in total they have raised over £10,000 for the charity since the group began.

CAFOD Volunteer Angela Middleditch said: “We were blessed with a reasonable afternoon on Sunday and a fantastic sunny afternoon on Monday and over the two days, nearly 200 people came to support us.

“Donations and the proceeds from the raffle amounted to £1600, half of which will go to CAFOD, and the other half going to another worthy charity.

“Many thanks to all who helped with baking beforehand and helping over the weekend; to all our lovely ‘customers’ and most of all to Tina and Barry for the use of their house and garden.”

CAFOD was founded in the 1960s by a group of Catholic women who fundraised for a mother and baby unit on the Caribbean island of Dominica.

It is now the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales; as part of the Caritas network it works with communities across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, helping people to tackle the poverty and injustice. CAFOD currently has over 5,500 volunteers in England and Wales.

CAFOD representative in Clifton Elizabeth Baldwin said: “Fundraisers are vital for CAFOD to continue its much needed work; CAFOD works alongside communities across the world but it is thanks to the commitment, hard work, and passion of local people like the Woodchester Priory CAFOD group who have helped to raise awareness of our work within their own communities and we want to say a massive thank you.”

If you would like to learn more about CAFOD’s work, please visit: cafod.org.uk