Garden Centre smashes its Charity of the Year fundraising target two months early

The teams at Yorkshire Garden Centres (YGC) group are celebrating after their six sites have reached their Charity of the Year fundraising target ahead of schedule.

In April 2024, the teams at Yorkshire Garden Centres' sites at Tong, Tingley, Otley, Bingley, York and Scarborough pledged to raise £20,000 for Yorkshire Children's Charity, an independent charity that aims to transform childhoods and improve the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children in Yorkshire. By the end of January 2025, the amount raised had exceeded £20,400.

The Charity of the Year fundraising is managed by a committee led by the People and Culture team. YGC's Group pPeople and culture manager, Steph Harrison said: "Yorkshire Children's Charity aims to make sure no child or young person is left behind due to ill health, disability, or financial circumstance. They help children be who they want to be and get where they want to go, and we're delighted to have exceeded our fundraising goal with two months to go.

"The teams at all centres have worked together to raise money through sporting events, raffles, bake sales, competitions and by hosting play parties at Grass Hoppers. We'd like to say a special thank you to Otley team member Lynsey Dyson, who has been a real charity champion, organising many fundraisers from raffles to team bingo nights and helping Otley to raise over £2,500 towards our total."

"We are continuously blown away by the strength of the Yorkshire brand and our ability as a region to come together to do the right thing for children and young people who need our help. So, to find a partner in Yorkshire Garden Centres who so clearly aligns with our vision and mission is just fantastic," said Charlotte Farrington, CEO and founder of Yorkshire Children's Charity.

Fundraising plans for the final two months include fundraising at the tills in all sites. A new Charity of the Year will be announced in April following a team vote.

Yorkshire Children's Charity was established in 2022 and exists to make things better for children and young people living at a disadvantage in Yorkshire. Through its grant-giving arm, the charity's work takes the pressure off children, young people, and their families by relieving their immediate struggles. Longer term, through intervention-focused project work, the charity aims to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, resulting in happier, healthier, and more independent children and young people, who are empowered to meet their potential and have the most fulfilling life possible.

Since Tong Garden Centre was acquired in 2015, the team and supporters have raised almost £100,000 for charity. Previous beneficiaries of the Charity of the Year initiative include Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Forget Me Not Children's Hospice, Luke's Lads, Butterflies Mental Health, The Cellar Trust, Candlelighters and National Literacy Trust. In addition, the team has supported hundreds of smaller charities in the local community through its Kindness Pot initiative.