charity - LJN Blog Posts - Landscape Juice Network2024-03-28T16:20:14Zhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/charityBritmow 2020https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/britmow-20202020-03-05T23:08:44.000Z2020-03-05T23:08:44.000ZFleur Voicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FleurVoice<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4019202743?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Britmow weren’t aware how much of an impact attending a trade show would have on their future endeavours. In the run up to their 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary, they were exploring ideas of how to celebrate. It’s only when they met Kate Cooney from the industry charity Perennial that they got their inspiration – to do a road trip on a lawn mower. One thing led to another and they decided on a 1,000-mile road trip that would pass through significant landmarks of the Horticulture industry.</p>
<p>Starting from the Phoenix Iron works, now home to the Stroud Brewery but was where the first Budding lawnmowers were invented back in the 1830’s, the trip will also stop by Ransomes in Ipswich, Dennis of Derby, Allett in Stafford, the Perennial Garden at York Gate Garden in Leeds, and will finish The Signal Tower Museum in Arbroath – the most northernly point of lawnmower manufacturing in the UK.</p>
<p>To be able to execute this ambitious trip, Britmow had their eyes on a specific little motor – a 1974 Ransomes Motor Triple advertised on an internet auction. After a little scepticism, careful consideration and thorough interrogation of Perennial, the vendor agreed to donate the machine to the cause.</p>
<p>To get the machine up and running to its former glory, the students at Pershore College have kindly agreed to refurbish it so that it is MOT ready for its ambitious adventure.</p>
<p>However, this long journey is not only to celebrate Britmow’s birthday, but also to raise money through sponsorships and donations to raise awareness of the turf industry sector within Perennial, but also to celebrate historical as well as contemporary manufacturing of lawnmowers in the UK.</p>
<p>Perennial is the only UK charity dedicated to helping people within the horticulture industry, and provides free and confidential advice, support and financial assistance for people of all ages working in, or retired from, the industry.</p>
<p>Any donations or sponsorships would be greatly appreciated. Please see all contact information as well as websites and dedicated pages below. </p>
<p><strong>Of course, if you would like to read about another story that is familiar to Landscape Juice members, here is a link to the founder of Landscape Juice Network, my Dad’s, Mowerthon: <a href="https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/one-man-one-mower-1250-miles">https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/one-man-one-mower-1250-miles</a>. </strong></p>
<p><strong>I am bursting with pride while writing this that my Dad was the predecessor to do this ambitious trip. Now, it’s time to support something that Dad would’ve been overjoyed to have known about, and that he would’ve whole-heartedly supported.</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3314142855,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3314142855,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="3314142855?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="482" /></a></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Follow Britmows adventures on social media:</strong></p>
<p>Facebook: @Britmow</p>
<p>Twitter: @Britmow1</p>
<p>Instagram: Britmow01</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you would like to support #Britmow please donate via <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/britmow-perennial-road-run">https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/britmow-perennial-road-run</a></p>
<p>For more information about Perennial, please see <a href="https://perennial.org.uk/">https://perennial.org.uk/</a></p>
<p> </p></div>Supporting grass-roots cricket in Mongoliahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/supporting-grass-roots-cricket-in-mongolia2019-01-24T14:21:33.000Z2019-01-24T14:21:33.000ZRichard Taylorhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/RICHARDTAYLOR398<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}870392834,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}870392834,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450"/></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When the enquiry came in for a good value gang mower to cut the grass on a cricket field, it was immediately clear that the request was an unusual one. The Mongolian Cricket Association (MCA) were looking for a machine to cut the only real grass cricket pitch in Mongolia, a pitch that is the focal point of the sport in a brand new cricketing nation!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The MCA provides year round coaching and kit to state schools and orphanages, focusing on the difficult areas of Ulaanbaatar where around half of the city’s 1.5m population live in informal “ger districts” on the edge of town. A large proportion of these have no access to mains water, heating or sewage.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Great social inequality exists here and the MCA want to create a community where sport is the common denominator and where friendships can be made irrespective of wealth or social standing. Now coaching 250 kids a week from 10 different schools, 40% of which are girls and young women, they are certainly well on the way to achieving their mission. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}870530144,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}870530144,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450"/></a>“I was very touched by the work they do and in particular how they raised the USD 50K to build that first pitch in 2016”, said Richard Taylor, MD of RT Machinery. “It just felt like the right thing to do to ship them one of our Junior Tow n Mow gang mowers, together with a few spare cylinders, with our compliments, as our way of helping them further with their mission. It’s not often you can do something that has such wide-reaching benefits!”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Battulga Gombo, or Tulga as he is better known, is the heart of cricket in Mongolia and the association's head. He says“It has been a long path for the association to get to where we have in terms of funding. Firstly was the fundraising for the pitch itself, then the nets and concrete, then the containers and the pavilion. The last item on the list of big expenses was for a mower.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“As a small NGO, the mower is for us a large piece of capital equipment, and we expected that we would not be able to save up enough to buy one for at least another year. To receive it as a gift from so far away by people that have not come and seen the kids starting out in cricket and having fun, demonstrates an extremely kind, generous and outward looking attitude.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}870429831,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}870429831,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450"/></a>“Now all efforts, both fundraising and energy, can go towards coaching the kids and building participation, in particular introducing the sport to the secondary school system, as requested by the Minister for Education! We have a long way to go, so if you would like to get involved, please contact us on the '<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cricket.mongolia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cricket Mongolia</a>' Facebook page.“</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you would like to explore the option of a new, used or reconditioned gang mower, please call 01844 299037 or visit our <a href="https://rtmachinery.co.uk/gang-mowers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>.</span></p></div>No data bought or sold at Thrivehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/no-data-bought-or-sold-at-thrive2015-09-03T11:11:17.000Z2015-09-03T11:11:17.000ZLandscape Juicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LandscapeJuice<div><p><span><a href="http://www.thrive.org.uk/Files/Images/Fundraising%20team.JPG?width=350&height=262" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.thrive.org.uk/Files/Images/Fundraising%20team.JPG?width=350&height=262" class="align-right" /></a>Every charity values their supporters – or certainly should do – but in light of the recent news about some charities passing on data, here at Thrive we’d like to reassure all our supporters, our future supporters and the general public that we have never, and will never pass on your data. </span><br />
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<span>At Thrive we’ve always tried hard to respond positively to all your feedback and in particular have been listening to you about the number of direct mail appeals we produce each year.</span><br />
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<span>We write appeals because we believe the next best thing to introducing you to the amazing people we help each year, is to interview them first-hand and tell you their stories. We hope you agree.</span><br />
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<span>Last year we took the decision to drop the number of direct appeals from seven to six per year and will be reviewing this again at the end of the financial year to see what the response has been.</span><br />
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<span>We’ve also improved the mailing preferences that we offer from no appeals, all appeals, to one or perhaps two a year (ie summer and winter). We’ve done this out of respect to all our supporters and all that they do to help us achieve our charity aims each year. </span><br />
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<span>At Thrive we care deeply about our beneficiaries so we have to ask for money otherwise we couldn’t function. But we want to reassure you that we strive to fundraise sensitively and in a way that hands the choices back to the donor. We haven't used telephone fundraising and operate an 'opt-in' system in gathering data.</span><br />
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<span>We are a small team of fundraisers at Thrive who make up the Business Development Team – pictured from left are Kat, Alyson, Sandy, Jean and Peter, ably assisted by some wonderful volunteers like Jean. </span><br />
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<span>If you want to talk about how you can help Thrive or have any questions on our fundraising practices, you can talk to one of them on 0118 988 5688.</span></p>
</div>Wyevale Nurseries staff raise £4,500 for Greenfingershttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/wyevale-nurseries-staff-raise-4-500-for-greenfingers2014-06-09T12:20:32.000Z2014-06-09T12:20:32.000ZLandscape Juicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LandscapeJuice<div><p>TWENTY-TWO members of staff at a plant nursery in Hereford have raised £4,500 for a children’s charity by taking part in a 30 mile sponsored walk.</p>
<p>The employees at Wyevale Nurseries walked the Mortimer Trail on Saturday, June 7 in aid of Greenfingers, which is dedicated to creating gardens at children’s hospices nationwide.</p>
<p>Adam Dunnett, Sales and Marketing Director at Wyevale Nurseries, explained: “We are so pleased that we have raised £4,500 for the charity. We were only hoping to raise £1,000 so we are delighted to have smashed our target.</p>
<p>“The charity does such fantastic work creating and improving the gardens at children’s hospices, which are invaluable to the families that use them.</p>
<p>“The walk took us through the stunning Shropshire and Herefordshire countryside from Ludlow to Kington. It was a real challenge for us due to the weather conditions. We tackled torrential rain and thunder and lighting. This resulted in thick, muddy paths and very slippery banks. The sun did come out for a while and lifted our spirits. There were some steep climbs but the views were amazing.</p>
<p>“It took us 15 hours to complete and we were all shattered come the end. It was a great team building exercise and we are glad that we all managed to finish it together. People can still sponsor us by visiting our JustGiving page at <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/teams/Wyevale">www.justgiving.com/teams/Wyevale</a>.”</p>
<p>Greenfingers was launched in November 1998 by a group of volunteers drawn from all sectors of the gardening industry.</p>
<p>The charity makes spaces for the whole family, so they can have fun, play and laugh away from the bedside, as well as having the space to rest, reflect and remember. To date, Greenfingers has created 42 gardens.</p>
</div>Record number of horticulturists seeking help from Perennialhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/record-number-of-horticulturists-seeking-help-from-perennial2013-06-03T16:16:49.000Z2013-06-03T16:16:49.000ZLandscape Juicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LandscapeJuice<div><p>As the UK job market and economy continue to struggle, an increasing number of people working in horticulture are finding themselves faced with debt problems. Last year Perennial, the national charity for people working in horticulture and their families, saw a 25% increase in the number of debt clients it helped. The charity also reported a shift toward younger people seeking its help, with 86% of its new clients during 2012 under retirement age.</p>
<p>Perennial provides help and support during traumatic events such as major illness, debt, redundancy, homelessness and bereavement, as well as disability, severe financial difficulty and old age. During 2012, Perennial helped more people than ever, up 7% on the previous year, with a notable increase in clients from the north of England.</p>
<p>Sheila Thomson, Director of Services at Perennial, commented: “We are proud to have helped more people working in horticulture than ever over the past year, but given the current tough economic times, Perennial’s help is needed more than ever. Our clients see Perennial’s help as a real lifeline and, without it, many of them would see no future. The continuation of our work relies on donations and involvement from the horticulture industry and we have many opportunities for horticulture businesses to get involved and show their support.”</p>
<p>Among the horticulture professions helped by Perennial, the highest proportion were qualified and unqualified gardeners who were not self-employed – these accounted for 27% of clients. The next most represented profession was landscapers, which covered almost 22% of people helped. A category that is on the increase is groundsmen and greenkeepers, which now represent over 12% of clients. Another 12% were jobbing gardeners and the remainder was a mixture of estate gardeners, designers, arboriculturists, market gardeners and nursery people.</p>
<p>As well as an increase in numbers, the increase in complexity of individual cases was also very marked in 2012. This has been attributed to the ongoing changes to the benefits system and the impact of the economic downturn on people’s personal circumstances. Perennial caseworkers identified £636,000 worth of benefits that its clients were entitled to and assisted them in accessing these, compared to £543,000 in 2011.</p>
<p>The help Perennial offers includes financial support, debt advice, help with housing problems, care for the ill or elderly and support for children of horticulturists. Each individual’s circumstances are different, but their contact with Perennial usually begins with a visit from a professionally trained caseworker to help find a solution and offer support for their particular situation. Perennial also offers bursaries for horticulture students who are in need of financial support through its Lironi Training Fund.</p>
<p>Originally established as the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Fund in 1839, the national occupational charity for horticulturists was re-branded as Perennial in 2003 and now reaches out to anyone who works in horticulture, including landscapers, gardeners, tree surgeons and parks and grounds staff and their families for life.</p>
<p>A lifeline… What clients have said about Perennial:<br />
“To be honest I was at the end of my tether and I thought if this is my life, I don’t want it anymore. Perennial took the rock off me.”</p>
<p>“I don’t know what I would have done without Perennial. I was at the bottom of a pit, mentally, physically and financially. Perennial has been a real life saver for me.”</p>
<p>Get involved:</p>
<p>All of Perennial’s work depends entirely on voluntary donations from the horticulture industry and the garden-loving public. There are various opportunities for horticulture businesses to get involved and help the work that Perennial does, in particular by becoming a ‘Perennial Partner’ or by joining ‘Investors in Perennial’. The work Perennial does also relies heavily on its teams of volunteers and people are being actively encouraged to get involved this way.</p>
<p>For more information, visit: <a href="http://www.perennial.org.uk">www.perennial.org.uk</a></p>
<p>Follow Perennial on Twitter: @PerennialGRBS</p>
</div>Greenspace charity to close due to budget cutshttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/greenspace-charity-to-close-due-to-budget-cuts2013-03-28T15:35:14.000Z2013-03-28T15:35:14.000ZLandscape Juicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LandscapeJuice<div><p><span>GreenSpace is the national charity that has championed the revitalisation and resurgence of parks and green spaces over the past 12 years. However, over the past year there have been devastating budget cuts to local authority funds and this, combined with the reduction in government grants, has meant they have had to make significant cuts to parks services. GreenSpace has relied on membership and grants and therefore it too has been hard hit. It is with great regret that due to this reduction in funding we have to announce that the charity GreenSpace will shortly cease trading.</span><br />
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<span>The charity now has 10 working days from Monday 18 March during which time it will seek to identify organisations that want to take on any or all of its assets or intellectual property.</span><br />
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<span>Trustees and staff are proud of all the work that GreenSpace has done over the years and, in particular, would like to thank everyone who has supported and worked with the charity. We feel we have made a significant contribution, encouraging both practitioners and communities to work together towards the common aim of improving their local places.</span><br />
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<span>We have partnered organisations and communities across the country to create Love Parks Week, which has highlighted the benefits of parks and attracted around 1.5 million people into parks during this one week. We have championed quality parks with our support for Green Flag and we have helped communities have their say on their local park through the GreenSTAT online system. We continue to get praise for GreenPlaces magazine that is read throughout the world and is unique in its breadth and style. More recently we have encouraged cities to look at new ways of raising monies and created the GreenPlaces Fund which we hope may continue with another organisation.</span><br />
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<span>In this time of austerity parks and green spaces remain an essential asset to every city, providing a place for everyone to exercise and enjoy. GreenSpace staff have lived and breathed parks over the last 12 years and during this time nearly 50 dedicated people have worked with enormous dedication for the charity. We hope their legacy will be that others will take up this mantle and continue to champion the importance of quality parks and green spaces for society in the future.</span><br />
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<span>If you wish to contact GreenSpace please email: </span><a href="mailto:info@green-space.org.uk">info@green-space.org.uk</a><br />
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<span>Michael Rowan, Chair of Trustees</span><br />
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<span>Paul Bramhill, CEO</span></p>
</div>Perennial - What we dohttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/perennial-what-we-do2012-05-04T14:29:43.000Z2012-05-04T14:29:43.000ZLindsey Churchillhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LindseyChurchill<div><p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314118352?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314118352?profile=original" width="217"/></a></p><p>As I write 15 Perennial staff across the country will be helping colleagues in horticultural trades as they face some of lifes toughest challenges.</p><p>We have 11 caseworkers and 4 debt advisors who are professional, friendly and non judgemental and happy to help whether you are facing sudden loss of income through redundancy or major illness, disadvantaged by disability or family circumstances or overwhelmed by personal debt, these are just some of the circumstances which bring people to us.</p><p>Our caseworkers can help you with claiming or challenging benefits and tax credits decisions, we are all fully trained so whether you need help working out what you are entitled to or you need representation at a Social Security tribunal, we have someone in your area that can help you.</p><p>We also help with ensuring that people can access the help that they are entitled to from other government departments. Particularly relevant if you are suddenly facing living with a disability or life changing illness or maybe you are juggling working with a caring repsonsibility. We understand that getting the help and equipment that you need can be tough, we can help with that and where state help isn't available we may be able to help with a grant from our funds.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314117973?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="75" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314117973?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="75" height="112"/></a></p><p>Our debt advisors can help with personal debt, negotition with creditors, dealing with county court judgements, bankruptcy and debt relief orders etc and there is no charge - not even hidden in the small print!</p><p>We help the whole family, we love being able to help the children of horticulturists since merging with the Royal Fund for Gardeners Children.</p><p>There is no typical client, we deal with individuals with individual problems and we respect that, our aim is to help you to find a way forward and we will work with you for as long as is needed to either solve your problem or until the best possible outcome has been acheived.</p><p>For more information please contact me <a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:lchurchill@perennial.org.uk">lchurchill@perennial.org.uk</a> or to access our services please call 0845 230 1839.</p><p> </p><p> </p></div>Marshalls names ‘Together for Short Lives’ as its Charity of the Year 2012https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/marshalls-together-for-short-lives-as-its-charity-of-the-ye2012-01-21T11:30:00.000Z2012-01-21T11:30:00.000ZPhil Voicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/philvoice<div><p><a href="http://www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/images/img1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/images/img1.jpg?width=600" width="600" class="align-full" /></a></p>
<p>Marshalls, the UK’s leading hard landscaping manufacturer, is pleased to announce that it has chosen children’s charity <strong><a href="http://www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/" target="_blank">Together for Short Lives</a></strong> as its official charity of the year for 2012.</p>
<p>Together for Short Lives is the only charity working across the UK to help ensure that every child and young person unlikely to reach adulthood and their family has the best possible care and support whenever and wherever they need it. The charity was given a boost in 2011 when it was chosen as the beneficiary of The X Factor charity single, ‘Wishing on a Star’, which reached number one in the official UK top 40 chart.</p>
<p>Neil Davidson, CSR Manager for Marshalls plc said:<br />
“The great thing about this particular charity is that it gives Marshalls an opportunity to fundraise and engage on a local as well as national level. As a major plc we have sites across the country – from Sittingbourne to Fallkirk – so we want to ensure that whilst the business is raising funds, local sites are building lasting partnerships with local children’s hospices and other care providers. This way, we can offer grass roots support at the same time as throwing our weight behind this extremely worthwhile charity and helping to support young people with life-threatening illnesses.”</p>
<p>Marshalls staff are aiming to raise funds for the charity through a variety of activities throughout the year such as dress down days, car washes and staff donations. Staff across all sites will also be encouraged to donate their time through activities such as garden clearing and building. In 2011, Marshalls staff raised over £8,000 for men’s health charities by participating in Movember and also broke records for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance by amassing the largest volume of shoes and textiles ever donated to them by a single company.</p>
<p>Eleanor Brady, Corporate Fundraising Manager for Together for Short Lives commented:<br />
“Together for Short Lives are thrilled to have been chosen as Marshalls’ Charity of the Year. We are really looking forward to working with everyone over the next year and together making a real difference to the lives of seriously ill children and their families across the UK”.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.marshalls.co.uk/group/CompanyNewsArticle.aspx?id=232">http://www.marshalls.co.uk/group/CompanyNewsArticle.aspx?id=232</a></p>
</div>Marshalls choose Thrive as Charity of the Yearhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/marshalls-choose-thrive-as2011-01-01T10:30:00.000Z2011-01-01T10:30:00.000ZPhil Voicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/philvoice<div>Marshalls, the UKs leading hard landscaping manufacturer, has chosen Thrive as its official Charity of the Year for 2011.<br />
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The Thrive charity, which helps people with disabilities harness the benefits of gardening, will work with Marshalls to raise much needed funds to enable disadvantaged individuals to truly enjoy their gardening experience.<br />
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Marshalls, who until recently sponsored the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show, has supported and encouraged children and adults to become more involved with gardening in both schools and homes for many years, so it was a perfect fit to support the Thrive charity.<br />
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Neil Davidson, Marshalls CSR Manager, said: “After reading about the tremendous work that Thrive has undertaken, Marshalls is delighted to be involved in helping to raise money and make a real difference to peoples’ lives through this worthwhile charity.”<br />
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Marshalls plan to fundraise throughout the year for Thrive and each manufacturing site will encourage employees to raise money for the charity throughout the year. One of the ways Marshalls is already helping Thrive is by providing the top prize in the 2011 raffle. This is a beautiful 6x6 Alton Octagonal glasshouse worth over £2,500.<br />
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Thrive Chief Executive Nicci Carruthers, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as the first ever Charity of the Year by such a prestigious and progressive company.<br />
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“In these challenging financial times Thrive remains extremely grateful to individuals and companies who choose to donate to our charity which means we can directly help more disabled people in the UK harness the therapeutic benefits of gardening.”
</div>