VOLUNTEERS willingly posed in a clever but humorous calendar in a bid to encourage people to part with their cash and help keep a Worcester resource alive amid funding cuts.

Staff and helpers at the Worcester Volunteer Centre took part in an unusual fundraising initiative to help keep the organisation afloat.

The models had their pictures taken for a 2014 calendar, aimed at helping the centre meet a shortfall in its funding.

Chief officer at the centre, based in the Tything, Sally Ellison, said: “These are really difficult times for everyone, so we have sought to keep all our fund-raising at a reasonable cost.

“If we are to continue to provide our services to the community, we need to raise funds to help us to do that.

"Having lost many of our grants over the past few years, it is important that we are seen to be trying to raise our own funds.

"This initiative is an example of just that, and is very important to our fund-raising success this year. We hope that people will join us to ensure the continuation of our services.”

Under new rules set by Worcestershire County Council, the centre has not received any funds in the past two years, losing £10,500 a year – half of its volunteer recruitment budget.

Also, as part of their campaign to try to ensure they can continue providing their services to the community, the group will hold a charity dinner on Saturday, November 2, at Worcestershire Cricket Ground, New Road.

Tickets at £25 include a welcome drink, three-course dinner and entertainment from an ensemble from Worcester Concert Brass and Dave Bradley of BBC Hereford and Worcester.

To order a calendar for £5, which includes the Worcester Wheels bus drivers for May and all of the centre’s drivers for September, e-mail sally@wvc.org.uk. To book tickets for the dinner, e-mail bev@ wvc.org.uk.