A Gloucester Rugby legend joined staff from Ecclesiastical as they tackled a fundraising challenge aimed at improving the lives of disadvantaged young people in Gloucestershire.

From cake bakes to rugby sweepstakes and dressing in club colours for the day, staff from the Gloucester-based insurer have raised around £2,800 for the Gloucester Rugby Community Charity thanks to a major team effort and Ecclesiastical matching every pound raised.

Former Gloucester Rugby centre, Terry Fanolua, visited the company's Brunswick Road headquarters to draw the raffle, have photos taken with staff and show his support.

Staff were also able to bid for a signed Gloucester Rugby shirt, pay to wear their 'Cherry and Whites' colours for the day and buy tickets for daily Ecclesiastical bingo. The church operations team had a hugely successful cake sale and staff and visitors popped money into a donation box in the staff restaurant.

Carol Gilbert (pictured right), who works for Ecclesiastical Financial Advisory Services and co-ordinated the fundraising, said: "We had a great response from staff, who were really keen to get behind the challenge to raise £1,000 for such a great cause.

"The daily bingo announcement caused the most excitement but everyone had a lot of fun and we made £1,400 over the course of the 30-day challenge, which Ecclesiastical will match. It's great to know the money will make a big difference to the young people throughout the county who need our help the most."

Helen Chu, Community Education and Funding Manager for Gloucester Rugby, said: "We would like to thank everyone at Ecclesiastical who took part in raising money and far surpassing all expectations, with special thanks to Carol and her team.

"All of the money raised by Ecclesiastical will be put back into our community projects run across the county including our women's and girls' rugby programmes, Gloucester Wheelchair rugby team, mixed ability rugby, walking rugby and our educational programmes."