Garden centre group boosts hospice fundraising goal
A Bradford-based garden centre group has exceeded its original charity fundraising target with two months of its charity year still remaining and has pledged to go even further for a Yorkshire children’s hospice.
In April 2025, teams across the group’s West and North Yorkshire sites committed to raising £30,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice, which supports babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions across the region.
Through fundraising events, stock donations, till collection boxes and a customer ‘Pennies’ initiative, staff at seven sites have raised more than £75,000 in just 10 months.
The company has now extended its partnership with the charity until June 2027 and set a new target of £150,000, following strong engagement from both employees and customers.
Martin House supports more than 500 children and their families each year and helps around 200 bereaved family members through hospice care, hospital outreach and community services. It operates around the clock, every day of the year.
Providing this care costs about £12 million annually, with most funding coming from voluntary donations and fundraising efforts. More than £60,000 of the total raised has come from small customer donations at the checkout.
The charity will use the new funds to support its education team, linked to the opening of its Education Centre, which will provide specialist training in children’s palliative care to healthcare professionals.
Upcoming fundraising activities include a Yorkshire Day Spinathon, a Dragon Boat race and a sponsored Yorkshire Three Peaks walk, as the group works towards its expanded target.