A CHILDREN’S charity may have lost out when it came to winning a £250,000 new house but it is on the up now it has found a new home.

The Joshua Tree was based in an empty shop in Weaver Square Shopping Centre but was forced to move out when the precinct went into administration.

Now the team and its volunteers are settling into a much more professional new office off Venables Road thanks to scooping £6,000 for being runners up in a Persimmon Homes competition.

Jo Pritchard, charity manager, said: “Our new office presents the right public face of The Joshua Tree while providing accomodation for our many volunteers to work efficiently as a team.”

The first floor office, which is above Northwich Foot Clinic and Northwich Clothesbank, has both office space and a private meeting room, complete with a meeting table and comfortable sofas.

This allows The Joshua Tree, which is fundraising to build a holiday home and support centre for children with life threatening illnesses and their families, to make a start on its supportive role.

Lynda Hill, who founded the charity with husband David, said: “Our support group is linked with Leighton Hospital and the community nurses, and it’s open to anyone who’s going through any difficulties or who wants to pop in for coffee and a chat – it’s very informal.”

Jo said: “It’s to help people talk about their situation if they need someone to talk to.

“The new office provides space for support group meetings to continue in a much more comfortable and welcoming environment.”

The chairity is also looking into how the corporate world can help its fundraising as well as the community.

Jo said: “This is the next phase rather than a change of direction but we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who’s supported us so far – please come and see us in our new office.”

The Joshua Tree plans to hold an open day at the office, which has its front door in the Venables Road car park, at a date yet to be confirmed.

• The Joshua Tree was one of 24 charities competing for votes in the Persimmon Homes 40th birthday competition.

The top prize was a three-bedroom detached house in Andover valued at £250,000.

The winner of the competition was The Harley Staples Cancer Trust.

David and Lynda said: “We were thrilled for The Harley Staples Cancer Trust as their aims and objectives are the same as ours.

“We have made great links with the founders and are looking forward to sharing with them over the years to come.

“The £6,000 has been invaluable to us as we have been able to move into much needed new premises and the rent and bills have been covered for a whole year.”