Nelson tradesman Darren Harrety runs room make-over competition to raise cash for Positive Action in the Community charity

Darren Harrety, owner of Harrety’s Decorating Service, raised the cash for Positive Action in the Community following a hugely successful Christmas competition that rallied the support of dozens of local businesses and supporters.

The competition offered residents the chance to win a room makeover worth over £1,500 for a £5 ticket. The main prize included labour-free decorating, £100 for materials, £200 worth of Valspar paint vouchers, and a choice between a brand-new carpet from Right Carpets or a professional clean from Homeclean of Pendle. The grand draw took place live on social media with Wendy Shepherd announced as the lucky winner.

All proceeds from ticket sales were donated to PAC, a registered charity dedicated to supporting individuals affected by youth homelessness, domestic abuse, and poor mental health across East Lancashire. For Darren, the motivation to support PAC was deeply personal.

He said: “"PAC is a charity that is very close to my heart as I struggled with my mental health a while back. I was lucky enough to have my family to support me to get me through it, but there are people out there who have no-one. Raising money for this charity helps them support those people in need."

This is the second year Darren has run the charity drive for PAC. Building on the success of last year’s competition, which raised just over £800, Darren was determined to make this year bigger and better, resulting in an unprecedented level of support from the wider business community.

Alongside the main sponsors—Right Carpets, Homeclean of Pendle, and Valspar UK—businesses ranging from local barbers and restaurants to supermarkets like Tesco and Morrisons donated 50 prizes in total.

"This year was different," Darren said. "I reached out for help from other businesses and from the community, and those who stepped forward supported me more than I could have imagined. Their generosity made such a meaningful difference. A huge thank you to everyone who supported us.”

Leroy Philbrook, who is partnership and community engagement officer at PAC, said: "I want to say a huge thank you to Darren. He has been a fundraising superstar. From coming up with the idea to getting businesses and individuals to donate prizes, plus all the hard work getting the word out, his effort has been incredible.

"Darren’s passion to help others at Christmas is a bright beacon of hope in our community. From everyone here at PAC and all our service users, thank you for holding this fundraiser. It will make such a difference to the people we support."

Positive Action in the Community (PAC) is an East Lancashire based charity that has been supporting vulnerable individuals and families since 1997. The charity provides a range of specialist services, including safe accommodation, community based support, counselling, and the delivery of universal support to help those in need rebuild their lives and provide early intervention to prevent escalating needs. PAC focuses on supporting people affected by youth homelessness, domestic abuse and mental health challenges.