Gareth’s blog: The power of partnerships

Gareth’s blog: The power of partnerships

Recently my family and I went along to the annual charity open day at Ossett Brewery in aid of Forget Me Not. Ossett Brewery is one of our longest-standing supporters.

It was a fantastic day, full of fun, entertainment and community spirit. While I was there, I spent some time talking with Jamie Lawson, Ossett Brewery’s CEO. He told me how he’d volunteered for Forget Me Not before we even had a hospice building and was inspired to think about how the brewery could support us – which is how the open days came about. Over the last 15 years, he said, the open day has grown from a relatively small event into something that people genuinely look forward to every year.

What struck me wasn’t just the longevity of the event. It was the passion behind it.

You can see how much the team care. The event is a real collective effort, with staff, family members and friends all pulling together to make it happen. The same passion and energy they bring to their day jobs is channelled into supporting Forget Me Not, and that means the world to me.

Following the event, I sent a short video message to thank everyone involved. Jamie later replied saying how much he and the team value their relationship with the hospice and how much they enjoy working with us.

That message stayed with me because it sums up exactly what great partnerships are all about. When a partnership is nurtured over many years, it benefits us as a charity, but also creates a sense of pride, purpose and connection for the people involved.

Not only that, but what relationships like this demonstrate is the additional power that can come from sustained partnerships built on shared values, trust and a genuine desire to make a difference. Over time, those relationships become about much more than fundraising. They become part of the fabric of the charity and the community we serve.

As we look to the future, we need more partnerships like this. More organisations that want to make a difference in their communities. More businesses that believe local children and families deserve the very best support. More people willing to start a conversation about how they can help.

So, if you’ve ever wondered whether your business could work with Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, why not get in touch?

I’d love to hear your story and explore what we might be able to achieve together. Strong charities are built on strong relationships, and in a world where demand for our services continues to grow, relationships like the one we have with Ossett Brewery have never been more important.

A thank you to Ossett Brewery