Frequently Asked Questions
What does Greenfingers do?
Greenfingers is a national charity dedicated to creating gardens for children who spend time in hospices, and their families around the UK to use and enjoy.
What is your registered charity number?
Our registered charity number is 1076640.
A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, no. 03716044
What is a Greenfingers Garden?
For full details about what a Greenfingers garden is please click here.
Why are gardens at children’s hospices important?
A Greenfingers garden gives children who use spend time in hospices, along with their families and carers, the chance to spend time outdoors, enjoying the natural environment and benefiting from fresh air. Our gardens often serve as a place for children and families to spend time together away from the bedside, and a safe and protective space in which they can relax and have fun. The gardens can also be used for therapeutic purposes, allowing treatment and therapy to be administered in a natural environment.
The gardens often provide children with a rare opportunity to indulge in some of the pleasure of being outside that most people take for granted.
How many gardens have Greenfingers created?
To date, Greenfingers have planned and created almost 70 gardens and outdoor spaces at children’s hospices around the UK.
How do you find the hospices to make gardens for and what is the decision making process?
Hospices approach us either directly or through Together for Short Lives (formerly The Association of Children’s Hospices). We ask our applicants to complete a detailed application form to enable us to follow an application process which is considered by the Greenfingers Board of Trustees. Once considered as suitable all gardens will then be assessed and will be subject to enough funding being available for each of them. Once the funding is in place, further approval is then given by the Trustee Board for garden building to commence. It is a thorough process and can often take two years from start to finish.
How do you raise the money to make the gardens?
We raise money to make Greenfingers gardens in a number of ways – through donations from individuals or companies, successful grant applications, working with high net worth individuals, volunteering and fundraising events, including Garden Re-Leaf Day. Some of the funding given to a project is ring-fenced for specific gardens and topped up with funding raised from the more generic activities. All sources of income are essential in enabling our work.
How can I make a donation?
Online
You can donate to Greenfingers in a number of ways. The simplest way to donate is via our Donate page.
Cheque
You can donate by sending us a cheque, that’s simple too – please send your cheque payable to Greenfingers Charity along with your name and address to us at: Greenfingers Charity, Upper Floor, 9 Station Approach, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6BN.
Bacs or Bank Transfer
If you would prefer to make a donation directly into our bank account, please contact fundraising@greenfingerscharity.org.uk who will be able to provide the details.
If at all possible please Gift Aid your donation. If you’re a UK taxpayer, you can add a minimum of 25p for every £1 you give at no extra cost to you. All you need to do is send your donation along with this Gift Aid Form to us at the address above.
How does the governance of Greenfingers work?
Greenfingers’ voluntary chairman is Sue Allen. Sue sits on a board of trustees who oversee the strategic direction and expenditure of the charity. Each Greenfingers garden is assigned a Greenfingers Trustee and these trustees take a personal and active role in all the decision making behind the garden process. Within Greenfingers there is also a Fundraising & Communications Group and a Garden Experts Panel of designers and this enables the Trustees of the charity to focus on strategy and finance, leaving the other aspects of delivering the charity’s aims and objectives to the other two Groups as stated.
How many people work for Greenfingers?
7 people work for Greenfingers in a full-time, part-time and/or freelance capacity. The charity brings in other specific resources as and when it needs it and uses volunteers to assist with administration and in the gardens within the corporate engagement side of the fundraising activity.
How can I get involved?
If you'd like to know more about getting involved with Greenfingers Charity you can vist our Get Involved page. Or if you have a specifc question, you can email the fundraising team: fundraising@greenfingerscharity.org.uk
You can also give us a call. Our phone number is: 01296 250 225
How do you select the designers and landscapers who work on your gardens, and are they paid?
We work with local designers, landscapers and suppliers to support the hospice and their links with the local community. Our Garden Experts Group reviews the design against the brief as it develops and local BALI or APL approved landscapers are asked to tender for the work. Our designers and landscapers are paid for their professional expertise.
How do your suppliers benefit from involvement in your projects?
All suppliers have the opportunity to visit the hospice, not only to see their products in our gardens but experience the vibrant hospice environment for themselves. We thank and credit all suppliers in our PR materials, website and on social media, providing regular updates on the projects. A launch event at the end of the project offers the opportunity to network and develop further ideas.