Inspire

Record breaking support for research

Delivering support at scale while continuing to invest in research depends on the strength of our income. In a particularly tough economic climate, our teams and generous supporters rose to the challenge and raised a record breaking £62m in fundraising income, and a further £106m in legacies.

Landmark fundraising achievements

This was driven by many achievements including our largest ever philanthropic gift - £6m over 3 years from the Garfield Weston Foundation.

We also launched our 'Keep us beating' campaign, featuring 65 red benches in honour of 65 people who have survived heart disease thanks to research.

Securing a strong and sustainable future

However, the broader income picture was not without pressure. Like many retailers, we are seeing rising costs and changing shopping and donation habits reshape the retail landscape.

To ensure our retail income remains strong and sustainable for the long term, we need to adapt how we operate.

In June 2026, we announced the proposed closure of 150 shops across our retail estate, phased over 2 years to ensure we continue to generate the vital funds that power our lifesaving research.