Together for Short Lives and Morrisons have today announced a new partnership that will provide vital support for families cared for by Jigsaw – the only children’s hospice in Cumbria.
Out of more than 100 charities to apply, Together for Short Lives – the only charity supporting the UK’s 54 children’s hospices – won a Morrisons colleague vote to decide which charity would benefit from a three-year partnership aiming to raise around £10 million.
Hospices like Jigsaw provide one-to-one care for children and young adults with life-limiting illnesses and support their families. Money raised in Morrisons stores and sites will support children’s hospices with the vital funding they need to be there for the 99,000 families caring for a seriously ill child.
Together for Short Lives will become Morrisons’ new charity partner from February, when the supermarket giant’s current partnership with Young Lives vs Cancer comes to a close.
Every single Morrisons store and site will be connected with their local children’s hospice like Jigsaw, based in Durdar Road, Carlisle, raising much-needed funds to help them provide families facing the unimaginable with vital care and the chance to make cherished memories together.
Patricia Livsey, Chief Executive at Jigsaw, said: “It is wonderful news that Morrisons’s staff have chosen Together for Short Lives as their new charity partner, and we’d like to say a huge thank you to all the staff locally who voted for us.
“This partnership – and the funds raised through it – will have a direct impact on Jigsaw and help the incredible staff here continue to deliver amazing care to the children and young people we support.”
Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive at Together for Short Lives, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as Morrisons’ next charity partner. Their support is going to help us make a lifetime of difference in communities up and down the UK.
“Families of seriously ill children are pushed to their limits every day. This incredible partnership will help to ensure that lifeline children’s hospices who are there for these families, aren’t pushed to theirs. The partnership will also kickstart an exciting new project to help us reach every family who needs our help in local communities.
“A partnership of this scale is just transformational – Together for Short Lives cannot save a child’s life, but with a little help from Morrisons colleagues and customers we can make sure that no family has to suffer through their child’s short life alone, and instead can treasure every moment they have together.”
David Potts, CEO at Morrisons, said: “It’s been a privilege to support Young Lives vs Cancer for the last five years and I’d like to thank our colleagues, customers and suppliers for their efforts in raising over £17m – in particular our Community Champions who’ve worked so tirelessly.
“We’re looking forward to teaming up with Together for Short Lives and providing vital support for children’s hospices across our local communities.”
