Charity

Ten Years of Magic and Meaning There’s something about a night at the theatre that feels a little bit magical — the hush before the lights dim, the sparkle of costumes, the laughter that ripples through the crowd. For many families across Northamptonshire, that magic has come courtesy of Royal & Derngate’s Unforgettable Gift campaign — and this year, it’s celebrating a very special milestone. Now in its tenth year, Unforgettable Gift 2025 is back with a mission: to spread more joy, more laughter, and more festive sparkle than ever before. The theatre aims to give away hundreds of tickets for its Christmas shows — and even productions into 2026 — to children, young people, and families in Northampton who are facing tough times this year. A Gift That Keeps on Giving Working hand in hand with the Northamptonshire Community Foundation and the Sir Gyles Isham Bursary (on behalf of..

Students from Northampton College are lending their skills – and their hearts – to a moving new project supporting patients receiving end-of-life care. The students have joined forces with The Lewis Foundation, a Northampton-based charity that provides free gifts, care packs and emotional support to adults living with cancer. The partnership forms part of an NHS pilot project at Warwick Hospital, aimed at improving comfort and care for patients and their loved ones in their final days. When the hospital’s Specialist Palliative Care Team reached out to the charity, they shared that many families spend their last precious moments together on the ward – and wanted to make that time as peaceful as possible. In response, The Lewis Foundation, founded by Lorraine and Lee Lewis in 2016, has worked with construction students at Northampton College to create handmade wooden hearts and crosses. Each piece is designed to be held by..

You know that feeling when a plan becomes a purpose? Three mates from Northamptonshire laced up, showed up, and ran 13.1 miles in Newcastle—turning sweat into support for local mental health services. Why they ran (and why it matters) Head of Business Support at VMS Ltd, Kev Garfield, led the charge with friends Richard Crook and Brian Jukes, completing the Great North Run on Sunday 7 September and raising £2,825 for Northamptonshire Mind. The spark was personal: their “little running group” came together to support Richard after the loss of his twin brother in 2023, aged just 45. Grief is heavy. Running together helped carry it. Kev put it plainly: “With the help of a strong network, alongside local businesses including VMS Ltd, BACA, BTN automotive, JW Signs and D&H Commercial Repairs Ltd, we successfully completed the Great North Run and have raised almost £3,000 for Northamptonshire Mind. “Our little..

There’s something about Northamptonshire that makes it stand out—not just the rolling fields and bustling market towns, but the way people pull together when times get tough. And right now, that community spirit is shining brightly as the Poverty Hurts fundraising appeal edges closer to its £20,000 milestone. Launched at the start of summer by Northamptonshire Community Foundation, the appeal has one simple goal: to help local people struggling with poverty and financial hardship. So far, it has raised £19,491—money that’s already making a real difference. Rachel McGrath, Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Community Foundation, summed it up with warmth and urgency:“Nobody should be struggling to cover their basic needs or skipping meals so that their children can eat. And yet this is a reality for too many Northamptonshire residents. If you can, please do consider donating and helping our neighbours in crisis.” Local businesses step up One business that’s already..

If you’ve ever wished you could slip into a time machine and waltz right into the golden age of swing, here’s your chance — and all without leaving Northampton. This autumn, the Cynthia Spencer Hospice invites you to dust off your dancing shoes, don your finest vintage threads, and join them for the Big Band Bash, a celebration of the glitz, glamour and toe-tapping joy of the 1940s. A night made for dancing On Saturday 15th November, the Mercure Hotel Northampton will be transformed into a scene straight from a wartime dance hall. The star attraction? Jazz Colossus — a jaw-dropping 20-piece band founded by composer and bandleader Miles Hancock, known for their unique arrangements and irresistible swing rhythms. Whether you’re a jive expert or just there to sway along, you’ll be in good company. From the moment you arrive, the vintage magic begins. You’ll be greeted with a classic..

After a soggy no-show last year (blame the thunder, lightning and sheets of rain), Northamptonshire’s much-loved cycling challenge, Cycle4Cynthia, is making a big, bold return this September—and it’s got its sights set on a record-breaking ride. Mark your diary for Sunday 21st September, because that’s when hundreds of wheels will hit the road, rolling out from the beautiful Althorp Estate for a day of pedal-powered fundraising. Whether you’re a lycra-loving long-hauler or someone who hasn’t ridden since the ‘90s, there’s a route for you—options range from a gentle 5 miles to a thigh-testing 70. And it’s not just about the ride. Cycle4Cynthia is famous for its warm, community vibe—with music, food, family-friendly fun and feel-good energy at the finish line. It’s a celebration of life, love, and the brilliant work of Cynthia Spencer Hospice, which provides vital care to people across Northamptonshire. “Last year’s cancellation was heartbreaking,” says Anita Frith,..

The sixth annual Silverstone Soccer charity event has raised more than £3,000 for a much-loved local charity. Over the past six years, fundraising footballers have collected enough money to cover a whole month’s worth of patient care at Cynthia Spencer Hospice. On Sunday 22nd June, 10 determined teams went head-to-head in a five-a-side tournament at Daventry Town Football Club. First-time entrants Northampton Town Football Club won the much-coveted winner’s trophy, with Asset Engineering as runner-up. As well as the football fun, visitors also enjoyed a bouncy castle and Silverstone Leasing’s managing director Scott Norville’s car wash service. The popular event, which is hosted by award-winning vehicle leasing firm Silverstone Leasing, has now raised more than £19,500 over the years for its nominated charity partner Cynthia Spencer Hospice, since its conception in 2020. With £504 being enough to cover one day of palliative care in the hospice, the current total could..

Ian Spence was on edge last Saturday, quite literally, as he began his descent on the iconic Northampton Lift Tower. Standing at a dizzying 418ft, the Tower is the UK’s tallest permanent Abseil site, giving Ian a stunning 360 degree view of the town and surrounding areas. Ian will be taking on this challenge on behalf of NAB – Sight Support for Northamptonshire. The charity helps visually impaired people in the county to live life to the full with support, advice and gadgets. This cause is particularly close to Ian’s heart as his son, Hugh, has been blind since the age of 16. Hugh received support from NAB quickly after losing his sight, and after some time volunteering he began work at the charity. He is now the Children, Families and Activities Manager and one of NAB’s longest serving members of staff. The chance to take on such an awe-inspiring..

Two local hospice charities have joined forces to launch an essential bereavement service to support individuals dealing with grief. Northamptonshire’s sister hospice charities Cransley Hospice Trust and Cynthia Spencer Hospice Charity came together after seeing a demand in the county for services to support people through their journey of an end of life diagnosis and palliative care. The hospices worked together to secure funding and put out a tender for the delivery of the service. Charities Age UK and Mind were successful in winning the tender and will both provide specialist email and telephone support, as well as one-to-one counselling from a qualified, registered counsellor as part of the newly launched Hummingbird Bereavement Service. There will also be structured support groups, taking place at Age UK or Mind premises, facilitated by a bereavement specialist. The service is open to anyone in Northamptonshire, aged 18 or over, who has received a..

The newly appointed Mayor of Northampton officially opened Cynthia Spencer Hospice’s newly revamped Big Charity Shop on Saturday 24th May. The ribbon cutting was the culmination of six-weeks of hard graft from dedicated staff and volunteers to totally transform the space in Pondwood Close, creating a much larger, open plan, more accessible shopping area, a changing room and a dedicated homeware section. The impressive transformation now sees a treasure trove of quality pre-loved items waiting to be rehomed, split into specific departments for shoppers to explore, including men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, accessories, books, toys, games, furniture and electricals. Well-wishers came along to support the cause, browsing the newly stocked shelves, making purchases, and playing fundraising games. Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Jane Birch, gave a passionate address to the crowd as she declared the shop open for business. She said: “At a time when we’re all looking for ways..

The countdown is officially on! Rehearsals have begun for Strictly SENsational, the inspiring, Strictly Come Dancing-style showcase celebrating adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The event will take place on Sunday 29th June 2025 at The Deco Theatre, and promises to be a night of electric atmosphere, show-stopping routines, and a whole lot of sparkle. Organised by SENsational Care Provisions in partnership with The Joanne Banham Dance Company, this feel-good production will see the SENsational team take to the stage with their pro-partners and a show-stopping dance routine. Under the expert guidance of choreographers, participants are already stepping into the spotlight, working hard to bring their best moves to the stage. The event aims not only to entertain, but to champion inclusion and community spirit, while raising money for Northampton’s own The Tor Rox Foundation - a charity supporting cancer patients through physical activity during treatment. “We’ve officially..

With one month to go until the deadline, Age UK Northamptonshire needs the knitting ninjas of Northamptonshire to get stitching and craft as many little hats as possible by Tuesday 1st July 2025 for the innocent Big Knit campaign. Each little hat will be matched with an innocent smoothie bottle, which will go on sale from October 2025 in selected UK retailers.  For every be-hatted smoothie sold, Age UK Northamptonshire will receive 30p, helping to make a huge difference to the lives of local older people. The Big Knit campaign, which is a partnership between innocent and Age UK, raises money to support older people most in need.  Money raised in Northamptonshire will support Age UK Northamptonshire’s vital information and advice service which last year helped clients claim over £4.9m in welfare benefits. Christopher Duff, Chief Officer of Age UK Northamptonshire said: “We are so grateful to everybody who has been knitting..

A Northamptonshire family is turning personal heartbreak into hope by hosting a special fundraising day at The Chester House Estate. The event is in support of the Twinkling Stars Appeal, a campaign led by Northamptonshire Health Charity to build a new maternity bereavement suite at Kettering General Hospital. Esmé Day, taking place on Tuesday 27 May, has been organised by parents Carmen and Chris Smith in memory of their daughter Esmé, who was tragically stillborn at 38 weeks. “Esmé would have been turning three this year,” said Carmen. “We wanted to mark the day with the kind of celebration we would have thrown for her, full of love, family, and joy. But more than that, we wanted to keep her name and her legacy alive. That’s how we parent her now.” Carmen and Chris were inspired to support the Twinkling Stars Appeal after hearing about it during their time in..

Today, on International Dance Day, Sensational Care Provisions proudly joins the global celebration of dance as a universal language of expression and community. As an organisation dedicated to empowering individuals of all abilities through inclusive activities, we know firsthand that dance is more than just movement — it’s a celebration and a chance to have fun! Whether it’s a groove in the kitchen, a choreographed routine with friends, or simply swaying to your favourite song, dance has the power to uplift, energise, and unite. At Sensational Care Provisions, we use dance as a dynamic tool to promote physical fitness, build community, and encourage emotional expression in safe, supportive spaces. “Dance reminds us to always have fun,” says Emily, Director at Sensational Care Provisions. “It allows our participants to express themselves freely, connect with others, and feel proud of who they are — all while getting in some feel-good movement.” To..

It’s not just about the miles. It’s about the memories, the love, and the legacy. This Sunday, as the iconic streets of London fill with cheering crowds and pounding feet, six incredible individuals will be running not just for the finish line—but for something far deeper. They’re taking on the 2025 London Marathon to raise vital funds for Cynthia Spencer Hospice—and so far, they’ve already pulled in over £12,000 (and counting). But behind every step they’ll take on 27 April is a story that matters. Aasha’s Tribute, 25 Years in the Making For Aasha Marenghi, this year’s marathon holds an aching poignancy—it marks a quarter-century since she lost her mum, who spent her final days under the compassionate care of Cynthia Spencer Hospice. “They didn’t just look after my mum,” Aasha shares. “They wrapped our whole family in care during the hardest time of our lives.” She set out to raise £1,750 in her mum’s honour. She’s already soared past..