Easter Chick Bonanza for Francis House

We asked for help with our annual Easter Knitted Chick appeal and thousands of you responded.

Rachel Astill, Francis House fundraiser, with thousands of knitted chicks — Rachel Astill with thousands of knitted chicks.

50,000 chicks!

We received an incredible 50,000 knitted chicks hand-crafted by more than 700 kind-hearted knitters from across the north west region and UK.

The majority were delivered to the hospice and we were assisted by scores of volunteers to help repair, sort and stuff with creme eggs.

A surge in donations of creme eggs to fill each chick has meant that this year’s appeal will be our best yet!

Ready in time for Easter all the chicks are found new homes after being delivered to schools, shops and businesses by enthusiastic supporters and volunteers.

Each fluffy chick is sold for £1 or £2 each to help the children and families cared for by Francis House.

£72,000 raised!

Caia and Olivia with creme egg donation from Lady Barn House School.

White Label Recruitment with knitted chick

Helen and Lucy donating creme eggs to Rachel at Francis House.

Knitters in Uganda knitting chicks for Francis House. Image Soft Power Education

Alicia with chicks knitted by her mum and grandma knitted chicks.

Kings School Macclesfield creme egg donation

Barclays staff stuffing chicks with creme eggs.

Francis House fundraiser Julie with Mia and Lynne helping with the appeal.

Nav Ajaz from Select Transport delivering chick orders.

Hamid from Barclays with cheque donation

Rachael Astill surrounded by knitted chicks

“Once again knitters from near and far responded to our Easter appeal. We are delighted that this year we smashed last year’s total of £50,000 and raised an incredible £72,377 having received approximately 10,000 more chicks and eggs!”
Rachel Astill, Francis House fundraiser

Top of the chick charts!

Top of the knitting charts is Margaret Drury from Monton, Salford who single-handedly crafted 1,205 chicks.
St Richard’s Primary School, Longsight collected 2,958 eggs and also sold hundreds of chicks.
Pupils from Lady Barn House School in Cheadle collected 1,151 eggs after Caia Hemes (9) and Olivia Mabon (9) heard about Francis House through their Brownie group.
Select Transport based at Manchester Airport donated a delivery driver for two days to distribute over 8,500 chicks to locations in Urmston, Salford, Stockport, Sale, Stretford and Oldham.
News of the appeal even reached two remote villages in Africa where a group of around 80 women knitted 5,000 chicks in return for fair payment from a UK benefactor.

“As a charity we rely on the generosity of people to provide 88% of our income. To everyone who has supported our appeal we would like to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Rachel Astill

Money raised from the appeal will help towards the £12,800 a day running costs for the care of children and young people with life-limiting conditions and support for their families.

Make a donation today to Francis House

Christmas ball a sparkling success!

Mottram Hall’s beautiful St Andrew’s Suite sparkled with glitz and glamour as over 200 guests gathered at the Cheshire hotel for an unforgettable evening in support of Francis House.

Tuesday 7th January 2025