Almost £1,000 was raised for an Epping Forest charity thanks to an online quiz organised by two if its supporters.

Sally and Richard Crone from Theydon Mount arranged for 42 teams to take part in the two-hour event for Voluntary Action Epping Forest (VAEF), with 15 rounds of questions designed so everyone – even those taking part on their own - could get involved.

Jacqui Foile, from Voluntary Action Epping Forest, said: “It was such a fun night. We would never have had that many people for a normal quiz night as we wouldn’t have room to fit everyone in, but well done to Sally and Richard for coming up with the concept, organising the technology for fundraising and getting everyone on Zoom at the same time.

"Plus the questions were really well thought out to cater for everyone – especially as there were quite a few people quizzing on their own.”

All of the money will go towards helping VAEF continue with its vital work and services in the community which have proved particularly crucial to the isolated and vulnerable during the lockdown.

The charity set up a Covid response service where thousands of local people who were shielding were helped out with shopping, prescriptions, befriending and trips to the vaccination centre. The service provided was a lifeline for a large number of Epping Forest residents.

Many of the wide range of practical support and community projects which support the Epping Forest community have continued throughout lockdown.

Epping Forest Guardian:

VAEF continues to run befriending for isolated individuals, benefits advice for housebound residents and gardening for homeowners, and tenants of Epping Forest District Council properties, who are unable to maintain gardens themselves.

Also continuing, where possible, has been a handyman scheme for council tenants, a community handyman initiative for homeowners who are unable to complete odd jobs around the house themselves and volunteer centres in Epping Forest and Harlow.

Volunteers from the charity have also been playing their part in helping the Covid vaccination centres in Buckhurst Hill and Epping run smoothly.

For more information about VAEF, visit www.vaef.org.uk, call 01992 910 701 or email admin@vaef.org.uk