CHESTNUT Tree House Football Club is kick-starting 2018 with a hat-trick of activities to raise funds and awareness for the children’s hospice, which is celebrating its 15th birthday this year.

Kicking off the activities for 2018, January saw the club announce that Brighton and Hove Albion Captain Bruno Saltor has become its Ambassador.

The Spanish professional footballer visited Chestnut Tree House in 2013 and learnt more about how they help local children with life-shortening conditions and their families.

More recently, Bruno supported an event in Brighton organised by Chestnut Tree House FC .

Quick on the heels of this announcement Jamie Westley organised Chestnut Tree House FC’s sixth celebrity football match, which took place on Sunday at Worthing Football Club.

A range of celebrities played in the game.

The match, which ended in a 5-5 draw before the Celebrity Allstars won on penalties, was attended by lots of supporters, who were then able to meet and take photos with the players.

Despite losing on the pitch, it was a successful day for Chestnut Tree House as £3,091.64 was raised.

This included £500 of match-funding from Lloyds, as well as ticket sales and donations.

The charity’s Football Club founder Jamie Westley said: “I was amazed by the amount raised on the day and the number of people who turned up to watch the match.

“Chestnut Tree House is such an important cause and I’m just glad I can do something to help.

“It’s great to have Bruno Saltor on board to help spread the word about the charity, and I’m so grateful to the celebrities who joined us for the match.

“The day would not have been possible without the generous support of our match sponsor, Reliable Heathcare Group, so I would like to thank them, as well as our team sponsors, etch and Brighton and Hove Radio Cabs.”

The final activity – to make it a hat-trick for the charity football team – is the upcoming Charity Gala Evening at The Grand Brighton on Saturday 3 March.