HARIBO charity partner hits £2m fundraising target
Martin House Children’s Hospice has hit their £2 million target for their THE BUILD public appeal.
A public appeal across Yorkshire to raise £2 million towards a major transformation of our charity partner Martin House’s hospice has hit its target.
The campaign, launched in April 2024, saw HARIBO UK take on the role as headline sponsor of THE BUILD, a £21.9m project to extend and completely refurbish the nearly 40-year-old hospice, which cares for children and young people with life-shortening conditions across West, North and East Yorkshire.
THE BUILD has seen the hospice create a new children’s wing, which opened last February, while work to fully refurbish and extend the existing building, with brand new facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, wellbeing suite, and education centre, is expected to be complete this spring.
Throughout the public appeal, our HARIBO colleagues have come together with thousands of others to fundraise, complete challenges, and raise vital awareness for the campaign and the hospice across Yorkshire and beyond. Over the 18-month period of the campaign, our colleagues have taken part in events such as The Big Zip, which saw adrenaline seekers invited to take sponsorship in exchange for taking on a huge 240m zipline from the top of the West Yorkshire Xscape building.
Another huge event for the campaign was the 36 Hour “Raise the Roof” initiative, which brought in over £400, 000 for THE BUILD in the given time window alone. This saw HARIBO UK colleagues supporting on the day with various fundraising activities, as well as match funding donations that were made throughout this short time period.
In addition to the public appeal, Martin House has been supported by significant donations and grants from individuals, trusts and foundations to help raise the £21.9m needed to complete the project.
Clair Holdsworth, chief executive of Martin House, said: “We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve hit our £2 million public appeal target. This money has helped to ensure we could complete this ambitious plan to transform Martin House into the hospice children and their families deserve.
“We would like to thank the thousands of people who have supported this appeal and helped us make THE BUILD a reality. Without the support of our community, we could never have achieved this target.”
Clair said: “We have been so fortunate to receive such wide-ranging support, from a huge cross-section of the Yorkshire community, and we are so grateful to each and every one.
“Although this challenge has come to an end, the need behind it has not. The real work begins now, ensuring we have the funds to sustain our hospice and protect its future. We rely on continued public support to make sure families can access our care whenever they need us, now and for generations ahead.”
Tabea Powell, Head of Communications at HARIBO UK said:
“HARIBO and our colleagues have been privileged to be able to support Martin House from the beginning of this journey to transform the hospice provision, into one that will provide the care that the children and young people of Yorkshire deserve.
“We are proud to call Yorkshire our home for more than 50 years and as such it’s a privilege to contribute to this local charity through our fundraising efforts. Together we have created a legacy that will transform lives and create lasting memories, as well as moments of joy for many more decades to come.”
“We’re excited to continue working alongside Martin House and are looking forward to seeing what 2026 and beyond will bring to those who need it most.”
Going forward, HARIBO UK will continue to support Maritn House to to help them to keep providing best in class care to those who need most by sponsoring and offering our support to the hospices biggest annual events throughout the calendar year, the much-loved Dragon Boat Race returning April 26th
2026, and the amazing Glitterball, returning in autumn 2026.
Martin House costs around £12 million a year to provide specialist and compassionate care to the children and young people of Yorkshire, to find out more about Martin House and how you can support it, visit www.martinhouse.org.uk.