Cheffins has raised £88,700 in the first six months of 2025, reaching 44 per cent of the firm’s ambitious target of £200,000 as part of its 200-year anniversary celebrations. The money has been raised by a combination of staff-led fundraising events, match funding and donations.
Most of the monies raised throughout the year will go to support the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital through the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT). Cheffins has pledged to give at least £100,000 for the hospital, which will provide a dedicated playroom for children in treatment, in line with the company’s goal to support mental health services for future generations in the region.
So far, the monies raised have been through a variety of fundraising efforts undertaken by Cheffins staff, including the Cambridge Half Marathon, the Norfolk Coastal Trek, a rounders tournament hosted by the Haverhill office and a bake sale organised by the Newmarket office. Upcoming fundraising efforts include the Cheffins team taking part in the Cambridge Dragon Boat Race, tandem skydives, a Three Peaks walking challenge, the sale of the Cheffins charity tractor, the Cheffins office bike ride and a timed online charity auction which will include a series of ‘money-can’t-buy’ prizes.
Bill King, Chairman, Cheffins, says: “We’re thrilled to have already raised nearly half of our fundraising target halfway through the year. Our team has shown tremendous dedication and creativity in their fundraising efforts, and we’re only just getting started. The generosity from our clients and wider community has also been incredibly moving. With several major events still ahead, we’re optimistic we can reach our goal. I would like to encourage anyone who would like to support this meaningful cause to donate via our JustGiving page.”
Established in Saffron Walden in 1825, over the past 200 years Cheffins has grown to become a leader in each of the markets in which it operates, including property services, machinery sales and fine art and antiques auctions. With a legacy of quality, service and innovation for two centuries, Cheffins is now focussing on the company’s future while committing to the local community and helping to underpin the vital services needed throughout the region.
Bill King continues: "As we celebrate this landmark year, we are doing so with purpose. Our charitable pledge reflects our long-term commitment to the local community and to strengthening the support systems that will serve the next generation."
The Cambridge Children’s Hospital will be the first specialist children’s hospital for the East of England – and the first in the world to fully integrate treatment of children’s mental and physical health. Incorporating a world-leading research institute, the hospital will bring together clinicians and academics to tackle and hopefully eradicate childhood diseases. Children, young people, parents and carers from around the region have been involved in shaping the new hospital, from how it looks and feels to how it cares for patients and their families. Situated on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, this pioneering hospital is set to open its doors by 2030.
ACT CEO, Shelly Thake, says: "All children love to play—and those who visit our hospital are no exception. For children receiving medical treatment, play is more than just fun; it’s essential to their mental and emotional wellbeing, helping them feel safe and supported in what can be a frightening and unfamiliar environment.
Thanks to the generosity of Cheffins, the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital – which fully integrates physical and mental health – will feature a dedicated playroom designed to ease the stress for our young patients who are receiving medical care away from everything they are familiar with – their family, friends and school.
By having a space dedicated entirely to play, young patients will be able to have fun whilst at the same time retaining a sense of normalcy within a medical setting. This can only have a positive impact on both their mental and physical wellbeing.”
“Staff at Cheffins have thrown themselves into fundraising in a big way and as one of our corporate partners they are a great example of how much fun you can have whilst fundraising for an amazing project such as this. To be more than halfway over their target already is truly impressive and we will be as excited as they are when they hit their goal.”
Join Cheffins’ efforts and donate to the Cambridge Children’s Hospital here
A minimum of £20,000 is also being donated to the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, to support vital funds for young people's mental health and wellbeing projects in the communities local to Cheffins. The remaining £80,000 raised and gifted will be donated to various other charities nationwide, with donations already made to Dementia UK and LEAF.