GMI Construction Group donates £1000 to Francis House

The hospice is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary year and is looking for 30 businesses to each raise £1,000 with the aim of raising £30,000 to help towards hospice running costs.

With offices based in Manchester, GMI, one of the largest independent construction companies in the North and Midlands, has made the generous donation to kick start what is hoped will be a busy fundraising partnership extending well into 2023.

Francis House has been providing care to North West children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and support to their families since 1991. Based in Didsbury, Manchester, the hospice employs approximately 75 members of staff and relies on charitable donations to fund the majority of its £12,900 daily running costs.

Lee Powell, the company’s chief executive officer, added: “GMI is committed to supporting causes and organisations in the regions where it operates. We not only work to enhance communities with our construction projects but, as a socially responsible business, we want to make a difference to the lives of people in those communities.”

GMI Construction Group supported Francis House in 2019 with the charity’s Easter Appeal and is keen to get involved in a range of fundraising events on offer including the annual Christmas Ball and Festival of Trees.

David Ireland, chief executive of Francis House, said of the donation and commitment from GMI: “We are really grateful for the donation and so pleased to have them on board in this our thirtieth anniversary year. We are reliant on donations to continue our work, so their support is invaluable.”

David added: “Francis House has doubled in size in recent years, and we now support many more teenagers and young adults than we did a decade ago in our state of the art seven bedroom facility Francis Lodge.

“It’s important to emphasise that Francis House cares for the whole family not just the sick child or young person, and families come to us from across the whole of Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The support of businesses like GMI is vital in helping us to continually expand and develop our services and we look forward to working with them.”