BRANCHES of Barclays in Gwent are showing the badge of their support for our Sparkle Appeal.

Bank staff are selling special Sparkle badges and taking donations for our appeal to raise £250,000 for the centre for disabled children at High Cross, Newport.

In January we reported how Barclays in Newport, Torfaen and Monmouth-shire had pledged their support.

This week, Kath Whitrow, Barclays corporate relationship manager at Newport, said: "The staff are really behind the appeal and by using our branch network to collect donations and sell badges we hope to make a real difference to the total.

"Many of our staff are also fund raising for the appeal which Barclays has agreed to match fund under its Community Investment Programme."

Roger Jones, chairman of the fund-raising appeal, said: "We really feel that the staff and the management are right behind this initiative that is doing so much for so many disadvantaged young people in South Gwent."

Susan Maggs, mum of cerebral palsy sufferer Rebecca, who is set to be helped by the new centre, said: "Everything that can be done for Sparkle is a great thing." Tina White, project development manager, said: "Barclays has been tremendously supportive of the Sparkle Appeal on so many levels.

"They provide a really good example of all the ways companies can help; they encourage their staff to volunteer and have agreed to fund raise from within their branches."