J T Dove fundraising hits £200,000

The Children’s Heart Unit Fund has benefited from the money raised throughout 2022 through events such as The Great North Run and Three peaks challenge.

North East builders' merchant J T Dove finished 2022 on a high having raised £23,000 through the year for its chosen charity the Children’s Heart Unit Fund.

Starting their charitable partnership in 2015, this donation brings its total to an impressive £200,000.

CHUF supports cardio wards across the region with its focus on The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. This ward is one of only two in the UK that children and young people in need can receive heart transplants at, and the team carries out and provides after care for over 300 lifesaving operations a year.

Starting in 2015, by raising funds as part of the ‘CHUF ‘N’ BUILDERS’ challenge, it was important for J T Dove to provide fundraising efforts for a local charity in order to make a meaningful difference in the region. Since then, both the business and charity relationship have grown and continued to go from strength to strength.

Managing Director Steve Robinson has always asserted the importance of the business being able to create a positive and worthwhile impact on the community that they serve, as well as highlighting how the partnership has increased the company’s professional development for staff.

“CHUF is embedded in our business plans and our work with the charity has brought a lot of fun to the workplace," he said. "The events give us a chance to connect staff across the branches and to engage with our customers and suppliers in different ways.

"Perhaps most importantly is the opportunity it gives for our merchant apprentices who get the opportunity to take the lead on some of our fundraising activities and grow in skills and confidence much more quickly that they might otherwise."

Throughout 2022, Dove planned various events for staff members to get involved in. From climbing mountains in the Three Peaks challenge, to taking part in the Great North Run, running a casino night, its annual golf day and branch tuck shops, they finished off the year with a Christmas jumper day.