Linley and Simpson makes generous £25,000 donation to Martin House Children’s Hospice

The firm - which has 20 branches across Yorkshire and The Humber - made the donation despite its fundraising activities being curtailed by coronavirus. Staff had planned to take part in Martin House’s annual Dragon Boat Race and the Total Warrior challenge, as well as by hosting a company Easter bake-off. As their chosen charity, members of the Linley and Simpson team also usually carry out voluntary work throughout the year.

The latest donation takes the total raised for the charity in the last five years to almost £100,000. Martin House, at Boston Spa, near Wetherby, supports families across West, North and East Yorkshire, providing support and palliative care for children and young people with life limiting conditions. It relies entirely on donations and fundraising to cover the £8m needed each year.

The hospice’s own fundraising activities were also affected and the firm did not want them to miss out on the much-needed cash. Hospice nurse Cally Marritt said: “We are so grateful to Linley & Simpson for their very generous donation of £25,000. Lockdown has put Martin House under extra financial pressure, and has meant we have had to adjust the way we provide vital care.”

Emily Wilkinson, Linley and Simpson’s Wetherby branch manager, said: “We did not want the hospice to miss out on the funds that they need to keep on providing the high standard of palliative care to families across Yorkshire, so we are delighted to be able to given them £25,000 donation.”