Collingwood Insurance is proud to announce the extension of its partnership with Children’s Cancer North into 2026, following a successful and inspiring year of fundraising and staff-led initiatives throughout 2025.
The decision to continue working with the North East and Cumbria-based charity reflects the strong connection formed over the past 12 months and the overwhelming support from Collingwood staff, who once again voted Children’s Cancer North as the company’s Charity of the Year.
Collingwood’s relationship with Children’s Cancer North began when employees nominated the charity, recognising its vital work supporting children with cancer and their families. What followed was a year defined by enthusiasm, collaboration and a shared determination to make a meaningful difference.
Over the course of 2025, around 200 members of staff took part in fundraising activities, collectively raising £7,344. These funds will go towards supporting children and families throughout treatment, as well as funding clinical trials aimed at developing treatments with fewer long-term side effects.
One of the standout aspects of working with Children’s Cancer North has been its diverse and engaging events programme. From smaller-scale initiatives such as cake sales, raffles and breakfast sandwich mornings, to larger physical challenges, the charity offers opportunities that truly capture the hearts of participants.
Among the highlights, Alex Robertson (HR Advisor) and Linda Laurie (Former Head of Compliance) completed a challenging hike in Morocco, raising funds while taking on a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Meanwhile, some Collingwood employees took part in a skydive at Sky-High Skydiving in Peterlee on 27 September, with the business covering participation costs to ensure all fundraising went directly to the charity.
Children’s Cancer North is an independent charity with over 40 years of heritage, formed in 2021 through the merger of North of England Children’s Cancer Research and Children’s Cancer Fund. Since 1979, the organisation has raised over £40 million to support children with cancer across the North East and Cumbria.
Each year, approximately 120 children are diagnosed with cancer in the region. While survival rates are now around 80%, continued investment in research and family support remains essential. Over the last three to four years, Children’s Cancer North has consistently achieved over £1 million in annual fundraising, working alongside organisations like Collingwood Insurance to raise awareness and improve outcomes.
Liz Laidler, Head of Contact Centre at Collingwood Insurance, commented on the partnership:
“We have been truly honoured and privileged to support such a worthy and impactful charity as Children’s Cancer North over the past 12 months. Collaborating closely with our dedicated Corporate Partnership Officer, Tiago Santos, has been an overwhelmingly positive experience—his commitment and enthusiasm have played a significant role in strengthening our relationship with the charity. We are absolutely delighted and immensely proud that our staff have once again chosen Children’s Cancer North as their charity of the year for 2026. This renewed commitment reflects the genuine passion within our team for making a real and lasting difference. We look forward to building on the success of our partnership, working together to raise vital funds, increase awareness, and contribute towards brighter futures for children living with cancer.”
As Collingwood Insurance looks ahead to another year of fundraising and awareness in 2026, the focus remains firmly on supporting Children’s Cancer North’s mission to invest in research, provide family support and raise awareness of childhood cancer.
A quote from Tiago Santos, Corporate Partnerships Officer at Children’s Cancer North:
“We are really pleased to have been chosen as Collingwood’s Charity of the Year for the second year running. Our partnership in 2025 saw over £7,300 be received in donations and I can’t wait for us to work together on fundraising plans in 2026!
The fact that we have been chosen through staff vote for the second year in a row is testament to how committed to our cause this team really is. Throughout 2025, they’ve shown this in the form of skydives, a steps challenge where the team as a collective racked up over 27 million steps in just 5 weeks, volunteering as part of our Paint The Toon Gold campaign, and even climbing Mount Toubkal in Morocco – an experience I had the privilege of sharing with two members of the Collingwood team!
We can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store for us and I am looking forward to all the opportunities that this partnership will bring to help us continue our mission of making life better for children with cancer in our region.”
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