Charity fund-raising at SMART has kicked off 2009 with a healthy boost from its staff slimming club. SlimSMART was launched at the start of January to encourage the Crewe call centre's staff to improve their diet and to promote a healthier lifestyle. It has proved highly popular with almost a quarter of the workforce joining in, and has so far raised £40 for Plan, the child-centred humanitarian charity.

SMART Founder and Director, Heather Carter, says: "It has created a real buzz in the office with people exchanging healthy eating ideas, tips and recipes. But most importantly the weekly weigh-in fees are raising much needed funds for Plan, which is a charity that is very close to all of our hearts here."

Plan is SMART’s chosen charity and the company organises a variety of fund raising events every year including sponsored marathons and dress down days. SlimSMART's target is to donate £500 to the Plan charity this year, and the kind hearted slimming staff raised £40 during January. Ten regular members have already lost in excess of four stones between them and they are all looking forward to losing more weight to raise funds.

"Everyone's being very supportive of one another and we've had many colleagues 'tutting' with disapproval if dieters dare to approach the sweet machine," added Heather.

The Plan charity estimates that £7 gives a child in Ethiopia access to safe, clean water at school; £6 provides one child at school in the Philippines with three textbooks; and just £40 will help a community to build a water well in Pakistan to keep families fit and healthy with safe drinking water.

More information about the Plan charity and SMART's fund raising efforts.