THREE deserving local charities have benefited from the success of the last Basingstoke Festival of Art and Crafts.

A sum of £1,750.50 was raised at the October event from sales of the work to the public, a raffle of donated artworks and hanging fees paid by the artists taking part.

The money has now been split into three and donated to a trio of worthwhile causes.

The first getting a cut of the money is Basingstoke Dial-A-Ride, which operates a minibus/taxi service seven days a week for residents who would otherwise be housebound.

Basingstoke Young Carers, which aims to give young carers the best possible life chances, also got a share, as did the Ark Cancer Centre Charity, which is raising £5m towards a new Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust facility.

The festival’s committee members recently met with representatives of the charities at The Hampshire Court Hotel to hand over the money.

Martin Biermann gave a cheque for £583.50 to Ed Ives-Wara, manager of Basingstoke Young Carers, accompanied by volunteer Laura Kerwood, followed by a presentation of the same amount to Stan Emery, of Basingstoke Dial-a-Ride.

A final cheque for the same amount was presented to Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications at the Ark Cancer Centre Charity.

This last donation will double to £1,167, as the Greenham Common Community Trust is matching all donations to the charity.

  • One of the Basingstoke Festival of Art and Crafts raffle prizes from October has not been claimed, despite organisers’ best efforts to source the winner.

The prize of a painting of a white horse by Phil Clarke Sr was won by a ticket with the name ‘Poole’ and a phone number on the back. The number proved to be incorrect. If you think you are the winner, call Aileen on 01256 476732.