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Garden Centres Raises More Than £100K For Martin House Children’s Hospice



Yorkshire Garden Centres has reached a major fundraising milestone after raising more than £106,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice since the partnership began in April 2025.


Across its seven branches, colleagues and customers have thrown themselves behind the partnership, from bake sales and raffles to running, cycling and dragon boat racing. Each branch has its own charity champion and fundraising target, while the Pennies initiative gives customers the option to add 25p to their purchase at the checkout.


Staff have taken on individual challenges, including Dry January and the Great North Run, while CEO Mark Farnsworth has organised and joined cycling challenges. Colleagues also entered two sunflower-themed teams into Martin House’s Dragon Boat Race and took part in an in-store spinathon, cycling the equivalent distance from their stores to the hospice.


Last year, the company played a major part in Martin House’s 36-hour giving challenge for THE BUILD, raising more than £7,000.


Support has gone beyond fundraising too. Staff have donated items to Martin House’s retail team, contributed prizes to the Glitter Ball auction and donated Lego to the hospice. The company has also provided table centres for Martin House Ladies’ Lunches and welcomed children and families to Christmas events and the opening of its Otley Grass Hopper play centre. The partnership will run until June 2027.


Mark Farnsworth, CEO of Yorkshire Garden Centres, said:

“Reaching more than £100,000 is a fantastic milestone and is down to the enthusiasm of our colleagues, customers and charity champions across all seven of our centres.”

“Martin House does incredible work for children and families across Yorkshire, and our teams have really embraced the partnership. Whether it’s taking on a personal challenge, jumping into a dragon boat or simply asking customers to add 25p at the till, everyone has found their own way to get involved.”


“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together so far and look forward to continuing our support.”


Hannah Finan, Partnership Manager at Martin House, said:

“We’re hugely grateful to everyone at Yorkshire Garden Centres for reaching this incredible milestone. What makes the partnership so special is the sheer variety of ways their teams have chosen to support us. From major fundraising challenges to donations, events and welcoming the families we support, their commitment has reached right across Martin House."

“More than £106,000 is an amazing achievement and will make a real difference to the children, young people and families who rely on our care.”


Each year, Martin House supports more than 550 children and young people with life-shortening conditions, and their families, across West, North and East Yorkshire.


Its specialist teams provide care at the hospice in Boston Spa, in hospitals and in families’ own homes, including planned short breaks, symptom management, emergency care and end-of-life care.


Providing this specialist care costs Martin House around £13 million every year, with the majority coming from voluntary donations and fundraising.


For further information about Martin House Children's Hospice and how to support it, visit here.

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Sep 9, 2025
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Contractor Clegg Construction has handed over a £37m student accommodation scheme in Leeds ready for the new academic year.


The Fabric Works in Leylands Road is a 402-studio block featuring study space, a cinema lounge and media room, fitness studio and gym, courtyard, bike storage, private dining room, and shared communal space with pool tables and a dry bar area.


The two-year project was handed over on time and ensures that the development is available for students this September.


Delivered in partnership with PPG Leeds Ltd, a joint venture between Primus Property Group and HIG Capital, The Fabric Works is situated next to Spinners Yard – a 185-apartment build-to-rent development that was completed by Clegg Construction earlier this year for property developer Rise Homes.


Michael Sims, managing director at Clegg Construction, said:

“Clegg Construction was proud to have been appointed to deliver The Fabric Works and we’re very pleased to have handed it over on time, as per our original and planned programme of work, and ready for the 2025/2026 academic year."

“This scheme provides modern and stylish accommodation in a thriving area of Leeds and is ideally situated for the city’s three universities."


“It adds to our growing portfolio of significant developments in Leeds, cementing our position as a key contractor helping to shape the city.”


The wider project team which delivered The Fabric Works included Tim Groom Architects, Ridge and Partners, Strive, KKA Studio, Quartz Project Services, and Innov8 Development Solutions.


As part of the delivery of The Fabric Works, Clegg Construction undertook a range of commitments to the local community including hosting multiple visits from Leeds College of Building students, significant donations to Blessed of the Father Food Bank, and regular contact with members of the neighbourhood via newsletters, a noticeboard, letter drops and in-person visits from the site team.


Clegg Construction has also worked with Community Wood Recycling for wood waste management and Wren Bakery, which uses baking and coffee as tools to provide disadvantaged women with opportunities towards employment.


Adam Turner, director at Primus Property Group, said:

“Clegg demonstrated consistent professionalism throughout The Fabric Works project, with highly capable and well-resourced teams that ensured efficient delivery to a high standard."

“They were organised, proactive in addressing challenges, and maintained clear communication at all times. Their coordination of quality subcontractors, collaborative approach, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail greatly contributed to the project’s success - and reinforced our confidence in their ability to deliver similar complex schemes in the future.”


With its head office in The Lace Market in Nottingham, Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects.


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