It’s the season for giving, right before the snow sets on the ground, the holidays sweep in and families gather – and one Jesmond restaurant has a big gift this Christmas: £2,700 in funds raised for local charity Children North East.

“Every child deserves to grow up happy and healthy”, the charity’s communications and fundraising manager, Billie Jenkins, told JesmondLocal.

Jesmond restaurant Chakh Dhoom has been instrumental in supporting families this year, according to Jenkins. In an interview alongside Ashwani Sharma at the restaurant, which has recently been awarded the Best Street Food Restaurant of the Year Award at the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards, Sharma and Jenkins shared that their combined efforts had raised £2,700 over the past year.

Sharma told JesmondLocal Chakh Dhoom the money came from a dinner held at the restaurant in November which raised £1,200, all the income from which went to the charity. Apart from the dinner, the restaurant introduced a £1 donation bundled into the price of their Dhoom Chicken Handi Curry, which gives the charity £1 for every dish sold. Through sales of the curry, the charity received £1,500 – a total which continues to rise as the dish remains on the menu.

The curry-linked donations may seem small, but are significant. One-off sums that are donated are great for the charity, says Jenkins, it’s consistent fundraising that is truly important for supporting the charity’s efforts. “It’s fundraising like this which helps us sustain our services and the community for the long term,” she said.

Leading up to the Christmas period, the charity has many projects running which assure the children get to experience the holidays just like any others. One is a silent auction which has so far raised £4,572, while another is a Christmas shop sponsor scheme, where anyone can buy food packages or gifts for children.

Jenkins, speaking to Sharma, said she comes from a hospitality industry, with experience running bars. She found a passion which she felt the urge to follow after working as a business supporter and putting on a competition for college students to show off their entrepreneurial skills. Soon after she found her way to Children North East and has enjoyed working with them ever since.

The partnership between the restaurant and the charity started with the restaurant’s owner Ash Dabral approaching the charity with a desire to support the work they provide for children. Sharma explained they chose to support children because “adults can do a lot to support themselves, but children can’t”.

Dabral told JesmondLocal: “The team at the restaurant is passionate about the work the charity does with local communities and across the North East. We feel lucky to be able to make a difference through our work here at the restaurant.”

Jenkins looks back positively on her experience working with Chakh Dhoom, explaining that their relationship was always very collaborative. “It’s a sweet relationship because we are always like, ‘What works for you?’ It’s like when you’re trying to choose dinner, and everyone is being very polite.”

Moving to conversations about the future, both Jenkins and Sharma confirm they are hoping to work together further. While they have no concrete plans as of yet, they are keen to put more fundraising events on in the new year.