Hallmark Care Homes’ head office team is busy fundraising for the Pioneer School in Basildon to help buy a minibus, via the Variety Club, at a cost of £17,000.

The Pioneer School helps children age 3-19 to overcome severe physical disability, behavioural challenges and severe learning disabilities. The minibus is vitally important to allow the kids access to local facilities and have days out.  

If you'd like to help us fundraise for this very worthwhile cause, or simply find out more, please contact our Giving Back team on 01277 655655 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We'll be providing updates of the progress of our project and any company that wishes to help with a donation will be acknowledged in our publicity material.

Hallmark Care Homes MD Avnish Goyal set up the Hemraj Goyal Foundation in 2010 in honour of his father Hemraj, who brought his family to Britain for a better life more than 40 years ago.

The foundation is unique in that it has a youth team made up of family members, some as young as 8, who get involved in deciding which causes they would like to raise money for.

For more information, visit www.hgf.org.uk

Alexandra Grange care home in Wokingham celebrated making it to the final of the prestigious Pinders Healthcare Design Awards by giving £500 to the Alzheimer's Society.

The home was given the opportunity to choose a charity for the donation after being shortlisted in the Traditional Care Home category – which it went on to win! The home was recognised in the awards for the high quality design of the building.

Manager Sam Ndlovu said the home had chosen the Alzheimer's Society as it hopes to support people in the community who are coping with the illness. He said, "We are going to be doing a lot with people coping with Alzheimer's in the coming months and inviting them to be involved with our care home."

Hallmark Care Homes Land & Development Manager Sue Earrey recently decided to organise a charity ball in aid of Strongbones, a local children's charity who help children with bone disease.

Marketing & PR Manager Jules Bottazzi was MC for the night and other members of head office also worked hard to organise a fabulous, rainbow-themed night. Hallmark generously stepped in with sponsorship and the event raised a staggering £12,742. Great work from Sue and all the team at head office!

Ty Enfys care home in Cardiff recently raised £130 for Cancer Research UK by celebrating Fruity Friday.

The local branch of Asda kindly donated fruit to the home; there was fruit carving and a Guess The Fruit competition (it was a Jackfruit! Who knew?). Well done Ty Enfys for a fruity, fun-filled, frolicsome day!