Pictured:  Andrea Blair, marketing executive; Amanda Redgate, managing partner at Rothera Dowson

Staff at Nottingham law firm Rothera Dowson have donated gifts to a drop-in centre for homeless people for Christmas.  

Emmanuel House on Goosegate, which offers vital support for hundreds of homeless people in the city, has been the firm's chosen charity since February, as it is faced with closure following public sector spending cuts. 

Solicitors and staff from Rothera Dowson brought in clothes, accessories, kitchen wares and even soft furnishings, all of which were donated straight to the charity to help those who will be sleeping on the streets this Christmas. 

They also held a Christmas present wrapping session in the Victoria Centre, with shoppers paying to have their gifts from the stores there wrapped, with the money all going to the cause. 

This most recent generosity marks the culmination of a year of fundraising for Emmanuel House by Rothera Dowson, which has included a quiz night and staff donating money for 'dress down' Fridays. 

Amanda Redgate, managing partner at the firm, said: "Christmas is a wonderful time for giving, and we are very pleased to say that we are well on the way to raising an estimated £2,000 for Emmanuel House as our chosen charity. 

"Emmanuel House offers a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable people in Nottingham and they need our help more than ever at this time of year." 

Rothera Dowson chooses an organisation each year to be its chosen charity for the next 12 months. Emmanuel House was named in February as the charity for 2011, after it was announced it would lose £180,000 in grants. 

For further information on Rothera Dowson, visit www.rotheradowson.co.uk. More details on Emmanuel House's fundraising efforts can be found at www.justgiving.com/emmanuelhouse.