West Yorkshire charity celebrates its biggest ever order

Colne Valley-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Thornton & Ross (T&R), along with its sister company, vaping manufacturer NextGEN360 Ltd, has teamed up with local charity Ruddi’s Retreat.

Ruddi’s Retreat is a small Yorkshire charity with a big heart. Set up by Ali Waterworth, whose son Ruddi faced a terrible battle to survive cancer. Wanting to turn this ordeal into a positive, Ali established the charity to support other families struggling through dark times and give them somewhere to get respite by the seaside. To date, the charity has helped thousands of families make the most of their limited time with loved ones and recover as a family in peace while making happy memories. This is made possible by raising money through donations, the proceeds from a shop and café in Slaithwaite, and events like Ruddi’s Ramble.

Despite best efforts, the cost of living crisis and COVID-19 fallout had rendered them without the funding to keep the doors open into 2023. Being neighbours with Thornton & Ross, however, has led to a new partnership with the charity alongside T&R’s sister company, NextGEN360.

In the run-up to their 100th company anniversary, T&R began the relationship with Ruddi’s by providing hundreds of afternoon teas. With NextGEN360 now involved, a company-wide Christmas hamper order has been placed, serving as gifts for T&R and NextGEN360 staff and providing much-needed financial support for Ruddi’s Retreat.

Speaking of the partnership, Ruddi’s Retreat founder Ali Waterworth said: “As a local charity, we have tried very hard to try and gain support from larger companies and develop the holy grail of corporate support, but this never seemed to happen for us until now!

“We have since set up a fantastic relationship with the T&R office team since they moved part of their workforce to the village we are now sited in, and in October received confirmation that we had secured the biggest piece of business we have ever had… Their Christmas hamper order!! This came on the back of us providing 400 afternoon teas for their 100th birthday.

“They have basically saved our business by putting faith in our service and products and I could not be more grateful or proud… So, thank you Thornton & Ross and NextGEN360 for supporting our little local shop and charity, because of you we all still have a job to come to and our charity continues to flourish.”

T&R’s managing director, Rudolf Baer, commented: “We are delighted to be able to support Ruddi’s Retreat, a local charity that delivers directly on the purpose of our parent group, STADA: Caring for People’s Health as a Trusted Partner.”

Julia Wood, managing director of NextGEN360, said: “We’ve been thrilled to be able to support Ruddi’s Retreat and give them a chance to continue their amazing work into 2023 and beyond. It has been an absolute pleasure working with them to provide our team members with a lovely gift at Christmas to thank them for their hard work.”