Supporting Francis House: A Local Charity Making a Big Difference
As part of our Social Champions Initiative, we’re proud to announce that our final donation of the year has gone to Francis House Children’s Hospice, a remarkable local charity providing end-of-life care and support for children, young people, and their families.
This month’s £500 donation felt especially meaningful, not just because of the cause itself, but because of how we came to hear about it. The charity was highlighted in the lead-up to the Towers Business Park Christmas Social, a festive event happening right here on our shared business park. When the invitation came through, featuring a fundraising raffle for Francis House, the whole team was instantly on board.
“We had such a lovely response from the team when we shared details about the event,” said Kate Munns, Operations Director at Lily Arkwright. “As soon as we saw that the fundraiser supported Francis House, we all agreed it would be the perfect fit for our Social Champions donation this month. It’s local, compassionate, and makes a life-changing difference to families - exactly the kind of cause we’re proud to stand behind.”
A First-Time Partnership with Real Impact
This is our first time supporting Francis House, and it’s an honour to help raise awareness of the vital work they do. Based in Didsbury, just a short distance from our Manchester head office & Manchester showroom, the hospice offers care and support to children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.
Their services range from day care and respite stays to symptom management, end-of-life care, and bereavement support. They also support parents, siblings, and extended family members with counselling and emotional guidance - ensuring that no one has to go through these experiences alone.
The hospice operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, offering a lifeline to families at the most difficult and uncertain of times. Their work is both deeply personal and profoundly important, giving children the chance to be children, even in the face of unimaginable challenges.
How We Heard About the Cause
We were first introduced to Francis House through internal communications promoting the Towers Christmas Social, an end-of-year celebration open to businesses on the park. The event promised festive fun, a pop-up bar, pizza from Nell’s, a ‘Paint & Sip’ station, and a raffle fundraiser for Francis House. For our team, it was the perfect opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit while connecting with our business park neighbours and supporting a brilliant local cause.
When we looked more closely at the charity being supported, we realised just how aligned Francis House was with our own values - compassion, care, and community. And with our Social Champions initiative in mind, it felt like the natural choice for our final donation of 2025.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to support organisations that are doing good on the ground, right here in our community,” said Kate. “Francis House was already close by, we just hadn’t connected with them yet. This fundraiser was the perfect introduction.”
Celebrating Local Giving
At Lily Arkwright, we believe the power of giving lies not only in the amount, but in the intention behind it. The Social Champions Initiative was created to reflect our team’s values and to give back to the communities we’re part of - from our national charity partnerships to the local causes that mean something to our staff.
Each month, a different team is invited to choose a charity or project they’d like to support. From organisations helping people experiencing homelessness, to hospices, environmental charities, and inclusive youth services, we’ve had the privilege of supporting causes of all shapes and sizes this year.
Francis House is a beautiful way to close out 2025 - a year where we’ve been reminded again and again of the power of small kindnesses, community spirit, and the importance of making space for others in everything we do.
Looking Ahead
We’re so proud of our team for embracing the Social Champions initiative with such thoughtfulness, and we can’t wait to see where it takes us in the new year. As for now, we’re looking forward to joining our neighbours for the Towers Christmas Social - enjoying a festive evening of connection, creativity, and celebration, all in support of something truly worthwhile.