Yorkshire garden centre group's fundraising acknowledged at Recognition Awards Evening

A Bradford headquartered garden centre group was commended recently for raising over £24,000 for a leading regional charity.

Yorkshire Garden Centres was presented with a Corporate Supporter of the Year award following its year of fundraising for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Yorkshire Garden Centres' group people and culture manager, Steph Harrison and people and culture assistant, Ellie Nicholas were presented with the award at an event to acknowledge the hard work and efforts of the charity's volunteers, fundraisers, corporate sponsors and local organisations.

Steph was proud to accept the award on behalf of the team: "We had aimed to raise £19,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, but thanks to the hard work of our teams and the generosity of our supporters, we exceeded our target by over a quarter to raise £24,253.

"It costs Yorkshire Air Ambulance £19,000 every single day to keep its two helicopters in the sky, saving lives across Yorkshire. Our fundraising not only covered one full day of flying but also one extra mission which is absolutely fantastic."

"I am delighted that Yorkshire Garden Centres have been recognised for all they have done for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance with their outstanding support and fundraising efforts alongside their garden centre communities," said Helen Berriman, interim regional fundraising manager - West & South Yorkshire.

Since Tong Garden Centre was acquired in 2015, the team and supporters have raised over £80,000 for charity. Previous beneficiaries of the Charity of the Year initiative include 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 initiatives.