A team of Greenfingers ambassadors met at the HTA National Plant Show last month to reflect on what has been one of the most successful fundraising years in the charity’s history.
The unpaid volunteers of garden industry experts and charity supporters help with raising the Greenfingers Charity profile, promote the work they do, use their networking skills to introduce new supporters and increase awareness of the magical gardens that Greenfingers build for life-limited children in hospices across the UK.
30 ambassadors heard for the first time in the charity’s 18-year history, the FUNdraising total exceeded half a million pounds in 2017, the most money ever raised in a year. This included Kew Green Hotels impressive fundraising total which hit £132,000 in 2017.
Other recent FUNdraising highlights include Garden Re-Leaf Day which this year raised a total of £70,000, taking the grand total raised since it started 2012 to over £600,000.
The Greenfingers Charity brand has seen a boost across social media too with a 113% increase in followers on Facebook and a 65% increase on Twitter. The charity has appeared in more media publications than ever before.
With Greenfingers Charity celebrating 20 years of caring next year, there is much more in the pipeline with an exciting 2019 coming up. There are hospice gardens planned across the country including a sensory garden at Claire House Children's Hospice (The Wirral), designed by Carolyn Willitt, an all-weather garden at Little Harbour Children's Hospice (St Austell) which will be designed by Darren Hawkes and a woodland garden at Richard House Children’s Hospice (East London), designed by Andrew Fisher Tomlin, with more on waiting list.
John Ashley said: “I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the Greenfingers Ambassadors who volunteer their time to champion the work that we do. We are spreading our wings as we head towards our anniversary year but we could not do what we do without the fabulous volunteers and our many friends in the garden industry who not only support us in so many ways but also ensure we are able to plan more magical gardens for the future.”
If you would like more information about becoming a Greenfingers Charity Ambassador, please contact Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising and Communications by email: linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk.
