Festival smashes fundraising target for Hope House

We are beyond delighted to have scored a record fundraising total for Hope House this year to smash the £100,000 milestone in our ongoing efforts to fund music therapy sessions for children with life-threatening conditions.

Our charity partner raised more than £11,400, which includes a donation from us for every adult weekend ticket sold. The record-breaking amount takes the tally raised since we began our charity partnership in 2008 to more than £102,700!

Every year Hope House volunteers hold a bucket collection on Sunday afternoon, this year raising more than £3,300. Visitors also make donations to charge mobile phones and electrical devices, raising £163, and Hope House runs a retail stall in the craft village, which reaped in more than £6,100.

The funding supports music therapy sessions at the hospice that can be an important tool for helping children communicate and have fun.

Festival Director Sandra Surtees said she was delighted to have hit the milestone figure for the charity: “Little did we know when we first started fundraising for Hope House, how successful it would be. Our festivalgoers have really taken the cause to their hearts and, year on year, continue to amaze us with their generosity and ensuring that this very important activity can continue for children at Hope House.

“We are beyond delighted to have smashed the £100,000 barrier and look forward to many, many more years of successful fundraising for this amazing charity.”

Hope House Area Fundraiser Bekki Fardoe said: “We are always blown away by the generosity of both the festival organisers and the festival goers, but this year was even more outstanding. To smash the £100,000 barrier is truly amazing.

“Every penny raised will help seriously ill local children to enjoy the gift of music during their respite short breaks at Hope House. Thank you so much to everyone involved for this priceless on-going support that will bring so much joy to so many children.”