Grant Thornton has rounded off a year of charity and community engagement with a donation to Age Isle of Man.

Thanks to backing from the firm, the charity will be able to deliver boxes of chocolates as a Christmas gift to about 150 local older people. The donated chocolates will be distributed by Age Isle of Man’s Meals on Wheels service for Christmas.

Dennis McGurgan, Managing Director of Grant Thornton in the Isle of Man, said: ‘Age Isle of Man does invaluable work in the local community and we are delighted to once again be helping ensure users of the charity’s Meals on Wheels service receive a little gift this Christmas.

‘When we made a similar donation last year, it served as a reminder that while we are surrounded by friends and family during the festive season, there are some for whom it can be a very lonely time. I’m very pleased we can again play a role in assuring some of the older members of our Island community that they are being thought of this Christmas.’

Age Isle of Man Chief Executive Helen Southworth added: ‘The continuing support of Grant Thornton has once again helped make it possible to bring a little extra Christmas cheer to our Meals on Wheels customers this festive season. I’d like to thank Dennis and his team for getting involved.’

It has been a busy year of charity support and community involvement for Grant Thornton staff in the Isle of Man.

Staff fundraising efforts, including dress down days, have led to donations of more than ?500 to a wide range of charities including Crossroads Care, Hospice at Home Isle of Man, the Royal British Legion, Children in Need and more. Other events included four staff taking on the Parish Walk and a team from the firm joining the Diana Princess of Wales Care at Home Trust fundraising quiz night – and winning! Money raised at the quiz will assist the Trust to continue offering palliative care to patients in their own homes.

Mr McGurgan said: ‘I’d like to say well done to all my colleagues on their efforts again this year. We believe, as a firm, that it is very important to play an active role in our community, and I think we have lived up to that ambition in 2015.’

Photo - (from left) Dennis McGurgan, Managing Director of Grant Thornton in the Isle of Man, Maureen Cowbourne and Helen Southworth of Age Isle of Man, and Grant Thornton Director Michael Crowe.