Our Charity of the Year 2025/26!

We’re thrilled to announce that The Never Alone Project, Northamptonshire’s leading bereavement charity, has been selected as our Charity of the Year for 2025/26.

Earlier this year, we invited charities across Northamptonshire to apply for a unique opportunity to become our very first official charity partner. The response was nothing short of incredible — with 34 amazing charities submitting heartfelt applications detailing their missions, stories, and ideas for how they would make the most of the year-long partnership.

After a three-stage selection process, which included written applications, face-to-face meetings, and final presentations, The Never Alone Project (TNAP) stood out for its inspiring work, community impact, and vision for the partnership.

What the Partnership Includes

As Charity of the Year, TNAP will benefit from a range of free support and promotional opportunities at Rushden Lakes from May 2025 to March 2026. These include:

• Social media and digital promotion

• On-site advertising space

• Outdoor event opportunities

• Use of our Community Sheds

• A Customer Service donation and information point

• Staff volunteering and fundraising support

• Access to onsite discounts

The initiative is designed to shine a spotlight on one local charity, giving it dedicated time, space, and resources to grow awareness and fundraising potential — all while continuing our broader support of charitable causes throughout the year.

A Big Thank You to All Who Applied

“We were delighted to launch our Charity of the Year initiative and to crown The Never Alone Project as our first-ever partner. The selection process reminded us just how passionate and compassionate our local community truly is. We were blown away by the standard of applications and want to thank every charity that took the time to share their story.”

Rushden Lakes Centre Manager, Donna French

In the final stage, three shortlisted charities presented their “big idea”, an original event or activation they would host at the Lakes. TNAP’s vision, aligned with their mission to support individuals and families through grief, truly resonated with the panel.

We’re incredibly excited to collaborate with The Never Alone Project over the coming year, helping them connect with more people, raise awareness, and continue their important work.

Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events, initiatives, and ways you can get involved.