Blog
Corporate Partnership Spotlight: Wards Estate Agents & Tree of Hope Charity of the Year (2024–2025)
04 Feb 2026
Great things are rarely achieved alone — and nowhere is this more true than in charitable partnerships. At Tree of Hope, we rely entirely on public generosity to fund life-changing medical support for children and young people. With no government funding, corporate partnerships play a vital role in helping us support families when they need it most.
Over the last two years, Wards Estate Agents selected Tree of Hope as their Charity of the Year, forming a partnership built on shared values, community impact, and genuine staff engagement. The result?
Over £40,000 raised to support children across the UK!
Why Wards Chose Tree of Hope as Their Charity of the Year
Wards Estate Agents have a long-standing commitment to supporting local communities and making a tangible difference to people’s lives. That ethos aligned perfectly with Tree of Hope’s mission: helping individual children and families access vital medical treatment, equipment, and support.
As a local children’s medical charity, Tree of Hope was a natural fit. Early conversations focused on how a partnership could work in practice and how staff could feel genuinely connected to the cause.
Karen Warner, Tree of Hope’s Head of Fundraising, met with the Wards leadership team to explain the charity’s work.
“I met Karen Warner whose passion was incredible. She explained the help they provide to families who need it most and gave me a real insight into the core beliefs behind the charity.”
Wards Senior Branch Partner
Following this, Tree of Hope was put to a staff vote — a key factor in ensuring long-term engagement.
“I voted for Tree of Hope after meeting with them and getting involved in fundraising events. In 2024, Tree of Hope kindly gave me a place in the Brighton Marathon, and I trained hard to raise as much money as possible. It was brilliant having my colleagues fully behind me.”
Wards Marketing Executive
And so, a successful Charity of the Year partnership was born!
How Wards Estate Agents Fundraised for Tree of Hope
Staff engagement was at the heart of this partnership. Individual team members took on personal challenges, including the Brighton Marathon, while branches across the South East ran creative and inclusive fundraising events.
Fundraising activities included:
- Half Marathon team entries
- Raffles and bake sales
- Sponsored car washes
- Superhero dress-up fundraisers
- Sponsored dog walks
- Photo competitions
- Dart-a-thons
- Quizzes and karaoke nights
Dan reflected on his marathon challenge: “Whenever the training felt tough, I thought about the families I was raising money for. That kept me going.”
This mix of individual challenges and branch-wide events helped embed the charity into everyday working life — a key ingredient for successful corporate fundraising.
How Tree of Hope Supported the Corporate Partnership
At Tree of Hope, we believe corporate partnerships should feel collaborative, supportive, and rewarding — not transactional.
Throughout the two-year partnership, we provided:
- Marketing materials – branded t-shirts, banners, balloons, collection tins and newsletters
- PR and media support – partnership announcements and event-specific press releases
- Dedicated staff support – with Karen, Becky and Georgie attending events and visiting branches
- Monthly case studies – showing the children and families being supported
- Quarterly fundraising updates – keeping motivation high and progress visible
“Tree of Hope are amazing at getting staff engaged. Karen visiting all of our branches was fantastic. You’re a small but mighty team and support us just as much as we support you — it really builds morale and genuine connection.”
Wards' Former Marketing and Events Executive
The Impact on Wards’ Staff and Corporate Social Responsibility
Kate also highlighted the wider CSR benefits: “Our teams gained a much deeper understanding of the charity and who they support. Staff engagement can be difficult, but Tree of Hope made it easy by sharing real stories. Our agents were genuinely invested in children’s campaigns.”
This level of engagement demonstrates how choosing the right Charity of the Year can strengthen company culture, staff wellbeing, and corporate social responsibility outcomes.
What Tree of Hope Gained From the Partnership
For Tree of Hope, working with Wards Estate Agents was both impactful and inspiring. Beyond the incredible £40,000 raised, the partnership created lasting relationships with people who truly understand our mission.
We learned how powerful it is when corporates actively involve their teams, build relationships over time, and connect fundraising to real-world impact. Most importantly, more children received the support they urgently needed.
Looking for a Charity of the Year Partner?
Corporate partnerships are a two-way relationship, and we would love to explore how your business can work with Tree of Hope.
Whether you’re:
- Choosing a Charity of the Year
- Looking to strengthen your corporate social responsibility
- Wanting to support a children’s charity
- Seeking meaningful staff engagement through fundraising
We will work with you on a personal, flexible basis to create a partnership that delivers real impact — for your business and for children in need.
Get in touch today to find out how your organisation can partner with Tree of Hope and help change young lives.
