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

nuse.

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.

Categories

Feb 18

2 min read

Scotland’s leading business support festival is returning to Tayside this month to inspire local entrepreneurs and business owners.

Transform Business Festival, which is created and delivered by Business Gateway and Elevator in partnership with Tayside’s three local authorities, will take place at Dundee Science Centre on Wednesday 18 February.

The free event, which will be opened by Leader of Dundee City Council, Councillor Mark Flynn, aims to inspire, connect and transform entrepreneurs, start-ups and businesses of all sizes across the region.

This year’s festival will feature Dave Coplin, former Chief Envisioning Officer of Microsoft UK, as a keynote speaker. With more than 25 years in the technology industry, Coplin is at the forefront of conversations on AI, big data, digitalisation and emerging technologies. He will explore how business and individuals can combine “human plus machines” to achieve the best results.

Attendees will also get the chance to hear stories from local business owners, including Brechin-based entrepreneur Katrina Hutchinson-O’Neill, who founded recruitment company, Join Talent. Katrina is also CEO of Hatchwork Events, which runs Summer’s End Angus, which is set to be the second largest mainstream independent music festival in Scotland this year.

Attendees can also enjoy networking activities and one-to-one business advisory sessions, as well as the chance to meet key Tayside support partners.

Councillor Mark Flynn, Leader of Dundee City Council, said:

“I’m very much looking forward to opening this year’s Transform Business Festival. Dundee’s economy thrives on innovation, and small businesses are at its heart. This event is a great chance for business owners, both new and established, to connect, share ideas and inspire each other. By supporting entrepreneurship, we’re investing in the future of our city and community."

Elevator’s CEO, Rachel Ross, commented:

“Tayside has some brilliant businesses and entrepreneurs, and Transform is about bringing them together. We focus on practical support - helping businesses scale, build stronger networks and access the expertise they need. Events like this create the connections that drive real growth, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back."

Mandy McKenzie, Business Gateway Tayside Manager, said:

“We’re very pleased to be bringing the Transform Business Festival back to Dundee. It’s a fantastic opportunity for local business owners, or those thinking about starting a business, to gain fresh ideas, meet like-minded people, and discover the support available to help them grow and succeed.”

n.

nuse.

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

nuse.

Most Read

Categories

Most Read

Categories

Recent Posts

Become a digital subscriber and support our publication enabling us to continue to share more news, each and every day.