The Sick Kids Friends Foundation has been Melville’s chosen charity for the past 12 months, with staff organising a number of events, including a Movie Matinee, raffle and regular dress down days, to raise funds for their invaluable work.

Katy Sandford, corporate fundraiser for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “This is a fantastic sum and we’re extremely grateful to both Melville and Vaillant. Every penny our supporters raise helps us to transform the experiences of children and young people in hospital so they can be a child first and a patient second, so for Melville to have nominated us is just brilliant.”

Ian Slamin, Melville’s director of property services, said: “The Sick Kids Friends Foundation does fantastic work for children and their families. So when I won this very kind donation from Vaillant, I couldn’t think of a local charity that deserved it more. I have no doubt they’ll put the money to very good use.”

Peter Kelly, key account manager for Vaillant Group UK, added: ”We are delighted that, by coming along to one of our Registered Social Landlord days, Melville Housing won this opportunity to donate the £1000 prize to such a great charity. These events are always well attended and give the social housing sector the chance to find out about new, ground-breaking ways that we can help them, and their customers, tackle the very real problem of fuel poverty.”