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17 April 2026

Yorkshire Housing colleagues raise over £33,000 for Candlelighters

A group of nine people standing indoors in a modern office space, holding a large presentation cheque. The cheque reads “Candlelighters” and “From Yorkshire Housing” with an amount of £33,700.51 and a date of 31/3/26. Hanging lights, exposed ceiling beams, and plants are visible in the background.

A huge £33,767.51 has been raised for Candlelighters thanks to the incredible efforts of Yorkshire Housing colleagues.

That total includes £18,767.51 raised through fundraising, with Yorkshire Housing matching £15,000 to take it even further. It’s money that will go straight towards supporting children with cancer and their families across Yorkshire.

So, what will the money be spent on? Gemma from Candlelighters shared this:

“We’re so grateful for the money Yorkshire Housing have raised. It means 33 families can enjoy a Center Parcs break together, which is truly fantastic. Thank you so much.”

Our charity of the year partnership has brought people together right across the organisation. From big challenges to smaller local events, colleagues have got stuck in and made it happen.

There’s been a real mix of fundraising this year, with something for everyone to get involved in. Some of the highlights include:

  • Sponsored walk raising a whopping £10,505
  • Leeds 10k
  • Quiz night and raffle
  • Golf tournament and 5 a side football
  • Bake sale, basketball competition and festive events
  • Colleague survey fundraising
Richard walking through a countryside setting at sunset, stepping over a stone stile beside a wooden gate. Richard is wearing outdoor walking gear and a backpack, with rolling green fields, stone walls, and a barn visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A collage of photos showing Yorkshire Housing colleagues fundraising for Candlelighters. The images include groups of colleagues wearing medals at an indoor social venue, a presentation screen reading “Welcome to the Yorkshire Housing Charity of the Year Quiz” alongside the Candlelighters and Yorkshire Housing logos, and two colleagues wearing purple Yorkshire Housing charity T‑shirts standing on a woodland path. All photos highlight team fundraising activities and events supporting Candlelighters.

Colleagues also organised their own local fundraising, from tombola and bingo nights to community events in Skipton. It all adds up, and every pound has made a difference!

Our colleague Richard Bould also completed an incredible coast to coast run from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay.

His challenge included:

  • 186 miles covered
  • 25,000 ft of elevation
  • 3 national parks crossed
  • 5 days of running and walking
  • An all-nighter under the moonlight
  • Battling everything from sunshine to snow, wind and rain

After a year of training and a last-minute setback when his organised event was cancelled, Richard still went ahead and completed the route solo, supported by friends along the way. Starting with a pebble from the west coast and finishing by throwing it into the sea in the east, it marked the end of a huge personal goal and raised over £1,000 for Candlelighters.

Here’s what he had to say after completing the challenge:

"This has been a lifetime ambition of mine, so to complete it while raising money for Candlelighters made it even more meaningful. It was an incredible journey, and I was lucky to have so much support along the way.”

How our charity of the year works

Each year, colleagues nominate and vote for a charity close to their hearts. We then spend the year raising as much as we can through events, challenges and fundraising across Yorkshire. Keep an eye on our socials as we’ll be sharing more about who we’ll be raising money for next.

Thank you to everyone who donated, got involved or helped spread the word. You’ve made a real difference to families across Yorkshire.