Our new Charity of the Year is Martin House Children’s Hospice

Ten years after it was our very first charity of the year when we took over Tong, we’re delighted to share the news that Martin House Children’s Hospice will be our Charity of the Year for 2025.

Through a series of fund-raising events, collection boxes at the tills and a new ‘Pennies’ initiative, the teams at our sites at Tong, Tingley, Otley, Bingley, York, Scarborough and Pennine hope to raise £30,000 for the fabulous independent charity that cares for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions from across West, North and East Yorkshire.

YGC’s Group People and Culture Manager, Steph Harrison said: “Every year Martin House cares for more than 550 children and their families, as well as supporting around 200 bereaved family members, at its hospice, in hospitals and in the community. It is open 24/7, 365 days a year, whenever families need help and support.

“It costs around £10.5 million a year to provide this care, the majority of which comes from voluntary donations and fundraising. We’re proud to adopt Martin House as our charity of the year and look forward to smashing our fundraising target.”

Plans to raise funds include a cycling sportive organised by our directors, a sponsored family walk, charity bag collections, Grass Hoppers parties plus in-house raffles, bake-off competitions, and the Pennies initiative whereby customers will have the chance to donate 25p at the till point. There will also be an internal raffle for our team to win an additional day’s holiday.

Chris Verney, Capital Appeal Fundraiser at Martin House said: “We’re delighted that Yorkshire Garden Centres are supporting Martin House again this year, ten years after we were their first charity of the year at Tong, and we’re really looking forward to working closely with them to develop this ambitious partnership.

“Their dedication to keeping gardens and homes at the heart resonates strongly with us as we progress with The Build at Martin House, reshaping our gardens and creating the hospice our families deserve.  Their support will mean that children and families across the region will continue to receive the vital, specialist care they need, when they need it most.” To contribute to Yorkshire Garden Centres’ fundraising, please visit here.