DORSET Tea has announced that it will be sponsoring the annual Time For Tea campaign from Julia’s House for the third year running.

The company has supported Dorset and Wiltshire children’s hospice charity since the campaign began three years ago.

Time For Tea will be launching in June and is inviting families, businesses and villages to host their own tea parties, cake sales or other tea time events to fundraise for the care time of local children with life-limiting illnesses.

As part of the sponsorship package the company will provide everyone who signs up to the event to host a party with a free box of tea.

In the past the campaign has received support from celebrities such as West Dorset resident and Doc Martin Star Martin Clunes who is a patron for Dorset’s only children’s hospice.

Lisa Worthington of Dorset Tea said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Julia’s House Time for Tea fundraiser. We really should make more time in our day to enjoy a delicious cup of tea and a slice of cake with friends, family and colleagues.

“We fully support this project that allows people to enjoy the occasion whilst raising money for a well-deserving local charity.”

Julia’s House fundraiser Amy Kidd said: “We are really pleased to have Dorset Tea on board for our third year. Having this support has been vital to the success of Time For Tea, particularly the extra treat of free tea for our party hosts.

Julia’s House has also teamed up with Lisa Osman of All Hallows School for Cooks and Makers in Wimborne St Giles, who has provided some teatime recipes which can be found on cards produced by Dorset Tea for the fundraising packs and online at juliashouse.org/timefortea.

Lisa said: "Recipes form part of everyday life at All Hallows and it's a great pleasure to share some of my own favourites to support Julia's House.

“Time For Tea is a wonderful way of encouraging people to bake - and share something delicious - hopefully raising funds at the same time to help families with very poorly children.”