A LEADING Devon accountancy firm has raised almost £10,000 for local and national charities.

Simpkins Edwards LLP, which has offices across the county in Exeter, Barnstaple, Okehampton, Heathfield, Holsworthy and Honiton, specialising in family owned businesses, raised a total of £9,616.11 for charitable causes during 2014.

A number of local charities benefited from the firm’s fundraising efforts, including FORCE Cancer Charity, Exeter Leukaemia Fund, Barnstaple Macmillan Cancer Support and North Devon Against Domestic Abuse. Amongst the national charities that received funds were Children in Need, Save the Children and Ataxia UK.

Simpkins Edwards’ fundraising activities included office events such mufti days, raffles and biscuit sales, participation in the Great West Run and the firm’s hugely popular Really Big Quiz in Exeter in May and Barnstaple in November.

In addition, the Exeter, Barnstaple and Heathfield offices also collected toys for The Salvation Army’s Christmas Toy Appeal.

The Simpkins Edwards annual Really Big Quiz has been running for 11 years and has become a much-loved social and fundraising event for local businesses in both Exeter and Barnstaple.

Last year the Exeter event raised £6,200 for the Lord Mayor’s nominated charity, Ataxia UK, while in Barnstaple £2,434.30 was raised for Barnstaple Macmillan Cancer Support and North Devon Against Domestic Abuse.

The next Really Big Quiz will take place in Exeter on Wednesday, May 13 in aid of Exeter Leukaemia Fund.

Partner at Simpkins Edwards, Adrian Hemmings, said: “We greatly admire the fantastic work of the charities we have supported over the last year and have really enjoyed raising money and awareness for so many important causes.

"We’d like to thank all those who have supported us in raising funds for charity during 2014 and we look forward to continuing our charitable efforts during the year ahead.”