Pearson Solicitors present £23,800 fundraising boost to Francis House

Staff at Francis House Children’s Hospice were delighted when Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers presented them with £23,800 – the result of two years of fundraising at the end of a successful charity partnership.

Throughout the two years, staff members from the law firm – which has offices in Oldham, Hollinwood, Failsworth, and Milnrow – participated in various fundraising events including The Saddleworth Three Peak walking challenge, Easter Chick Appeal and donations of festive gifts.

The money raised will contribute towards the running costs of the hospice that provides respite care, homecare, sibling support, end of life care, bereavement and emotional support to more than 600 families in Greater Manchester including Oldham, Bury, and Rochdale.

Joanne Ormston, Pearson Solicitors’ Director and Practice Manager said: “Over the two-year partnership, we have worked closely with Julie Williams and Susie Poppitt who are Fundraising Officers at Francis House, and we have got to know a lot about the hospice.

“The work they do is so important to those who unfortunately find themselves in need of their services.

“In April 2024, I attended Francis House to present Julie and Susie with a cheque and my visit coincided with their ‘Open Day’ which they run twice a year.

“I had a tour of the facility and felt overwhelmed by the peace I experienced. The hospice has a warm and friendly atmosphere, it is not clinical in any way, which is a comfort to the children and parents using the service.”

Fundraising initiatives

Informing clients on the value of making a Will and leaving a legacy to a charity, led to the firm participating throughout September in a Make a Will Month campaign which saw their legal experts donating their time for free by preparing Wills for clients in exchange for a charitable donation.

The charity’s Easter Chick Appeal also proved popular with the staff at Pearson knitting chicks and donating creme eggs which were then sold to schools and businesses to raise funds.

During the festive period, staff donated chocolates and gifts including toys, books, and more than 250 advent calendars to provide some festive cheer to the hospice families.

Julie Williams, Fundraising Officer at Francis House said: “We are delighted with the amount donated by Pearson Solicitors. The services we provide are costly with our annual running costs exceeding £4.8 million.

“We receive only 15% of our income from the government so the support we get from organisations such as Pearson is vital.”