Peterborough shopping centre’s new Charity Partner is The Guide Dogs of the Blind Association

The Berkshire based charity – who will now receive 12 months of exclusive support from Queensgate Shopping Centre from 1 January 2021 – helps blind and partially sighted people across the UK through the provision of guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services.

The charity was selected from a number of submissions, who all sent in a short video alongside two written case studies, explaining why they would like to partner with Queensgate to become the shopping centre’s next Charity Partner.

Jo Berry, Community Fundraising Business Development Manager for the charity commented: “Guide Dogs are delighted to have been chosen as Queensgate Shopping Centre’s charity partner for 2021. Our staff, volunteers and life-changing dogs are looking forward to meeting the wonderful people of Peterborough and demonstrating the work we do to support people living with sight loss”.

The shopping centre has been supporting local charities for many years, working closely with Shine – a charity for those with Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus – from October 2019 to October 2020.

Supporting Shine for twelve months, Queensgate raised a total of over £7,700 for the charity. Donations were received throughout the year, and were significantly boosted by the centre’s fundraising gift wrap event last Christmas, their time spent fundraising in Marks and Spencer and the Fashion & Fizz event hosted by Shine at John Lewis & Partners earlier this year.

“On behalf of everyone at Shine, I want to thank Queensgate Shopping Centre for all their support in what was a very strange and different year. The money raised will ensure that we are able to continue supporting the spina bifida and hydrocephalus community across the UK.”, said Jo Marriott, Head of Fundraising at Shine.

Mark Broadhead, Centre Director at Queensgate Shopping Centre, says: “We are absolutely thrilled to announce our new Charity Partner and thoroughly look forward to working with The Guide Dogs of the Blind Association over the next year. Thank you to every charity who submitted their entry to become our next Charity Partner.”