Toolstation raised £743,000 for its designated charity partner, Macmillan Cancer Support, in 2023.
Since launching the charity partnership in 2020, Toolstation has raised over £2,000,000 for Macmillan as part of its commitment to supporting the community and making positive changes.
Fundraising took place across the business, with staff members and customers at its distribution centres, head office and 550+ stores; all getting involved over the last year to help reach the figure.
Toolstation employees competed in the London Marathon last April for the third consecutive year, raising over £90,000 in the process, while a team of 20 colleagues took on the Tough Mudder challenge in August, raising over £8,000.
The business also sponsored several members of staff to shave their heads for Macmillan Cancer Support as part of its Brave the Shave campaign, including Contact Centre colleague Fiona Staples, who raised over £1,000.
Other fundraising initiatives included a 563-mile walk in March, hosted by Toolstation’s Finance team to support their £2,500 goal for 2023, and a 992-mile dog walk challenge undertaken by 16 employees in May.
Throughout the year Toolstation staff across the UK showed their support for Macmillan by hosting regular store raffles, bake sales, fancy dress days and Macmillan Coffee Mornings, all of which were backed by customer and colleague donations.
Fundraising efforts for Macmillan also came through Toolstation’s collaboration with micro-donation charity Pennies, which enables customers to add an optional donation to the charity onto their purchases when paying by card and contactless.
Toolstation’s Managing Director, Angela Rushforth said: “It’s amazing to think that we’ve raised so much money thanks to the generosity of our customers and colleagues. The wonderful work and support that Macmillan provides helps so many people and we’re so pleased that the £743,000 raised will continue to support the charity in its efforts to be there for everyone living with or affected by cancer.”
Kate Goldman-Toomey, Director of Corporate Partnerships & Philanthropy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “We are extremely grateful for Toolstation, and its unwavering commitment to raising vital funds for Macmillan. Through sheer determination and dedication, Toolstation colleagues and customers have once again raised an absolutely staggering amount.
“As a charity that relies almost entirely on donations, it is the generous support of the public and valued partners like Toolstation that allows us to continue doing whatever it takes to give people living with cancer the support they need, when they need it most. We can’t thank Toolstation colleagues and customers enough for their steadfast support.”
Pennies CEO Alison Hutchinson CBE added “Congratulations to the team at Toolstation and your amazing customers for making over 650,000 micro-donations for charity in 2023. These small acts of generosity have enabled all those pennies to add up to £210k for Macmillan Cancer Support making a huge difference for the great work they do so brilliantly. Thank you to the Toolstation’s team and to all those customers who press ‘Yes’ – your small acts of kindness make such a difference.”
During 2023 Toolstation also supported several additional charitable initiatives. It continued its partnership with the Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) social enterprise, supporting volunteers aged between 14-24, who may be disengaged or excluded from mainstream education and training to learn DIY and trade skills.
Last year, Toolstation supported several VIY projects including the transformation of a sports centre in Leeds, the refurbishment of a Strong Roots allotment in Norwich, and the renovation of sheltered housing accommodation provided by youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.
