A CHARITY that provides days out on the water for disabled and seriously ill children and adults with their carers has been buoyed up by a generous donation from a Cirencester business.

The town's Coventry Building Society has raised £40,000 for the Willow Trust, with the large donation helping the charity to keep the days out on the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal free of charge.

Willow Trust administrators, Liz Rowland and Linda Diggory were presented with the cheque for £40,163.76 by Coventry Building Society Manager, Tracy Ellis and her team.

The large donation will help The Willow Trust keep their days of fun and freedom on the water completely free of charge for thousands of local children and adults with disabilities and serious illnesses in the season ahead.

Liz Rowland said: “The Coventry Supporter’s account and the wonderful Cirencester team that tell everyone about the work of the Willow Trust boats are a real lifesaver for the charity.

"We welcome up to 7,000 guests on board each year to experience the spirit of freedom that only day on the water can provide.

"We rely totally on our own fund-raising efforts to keep these days completely free for our guests so this amazing donation will help us continue to reach the people in our local communities most in need - people who live with the daily challenge of disabilities, as well as serious illnesses”.

Cirencester Coventry Manager Tracy Ellis said: “It is a shared endeavour. For us and The Willow Trust it is all about the community.

"Our members are at the heart of all the donations made so we cannot thank them enough for their continued support.

"At national level the Coventry has raised millions to support The British Royal Legion and locally, this is the largest donation we have ever given. We are very proud to help out”.

Visit willowtrust.org for more about the Willow Trust