More Cheshire businesses than ever are committing to support local charities through skills sharing partnerships thanks to Cheshire Connect.

Cheshire Connect facilitated 206 skills exchanges to the value of £224,272 between Cheshire businesses and charities in its most successful year to date.

The skills sharing organisation’s Annual Review found that 2,480 volunteering hours were donated over the last year, an annual increase of 62%.

334 businesses registered with Cheshire Connect to share skills in 2015/16 compared to 250 in 2014/15. The number of charities registered to receive support has also increased from 131 to 209.

Donna Okell, CEO of Cheshire Connect, said: “This year we have gone from strength to strength, thanks to the generous support we receive.

“Increasing demand for charity services combined with a diminishing supply of funds means that it’s more important than ever that we work together.

“Businesses across Cheshire are recognising their wider social responsibility and the benefit to both business and charity from participating in a skills sharing arrangement.

“The value of donated professional skills is priceless to charities who do not know how to function as a business.

“Our key focus for the coming year is to secure sustainable funding for Cheshire Connect so we can continue to build stronger communities in Cheshire. We look forward to an even more prosperous 2016/17.”