Haskins Garden Centre in West End donates cuddly bears to local causes

Haskins Garden Centre in West End, Southampton, has partnered with Mansbridge Primary School and Countess Mountbatten Hospice to spread festive cheer this Christmas.

The garden centre has donated over 70 cuddly bears to each organisation, with the aim of bringing a smile to people’s faces this festive season.

Mansbridge Primary School will be gifting the bears to children who usually receive free school meals, alongside Christmas food parcels to support them and their families over the break.

Countess Mountbatten will be including the bears in in festive hampers which will be going out to patients who are going through end-of-life care at home or are living alone over the Christmas period.

Lisa Looker, brand director at Haskins, said: “For several years now, Haskins has donated hundreds of cuddly bears to different local causes, with the aim of delivering some festive joy and we’ve worked hard to not break the tradition this year.

“After such a challenging year, we wanted to do something special to help those in our community, who might be having a tough time, feel a little more festive.

“We hope that the children at Mansbridge Primary School and those in the care of Countess Mountbatten will be delighted to receive their cuddly bears and that they have a lovely Christmas.”

Haskins has donated more than 400 cuddly bears to schools and charities across the south this festive season, in communities that are local to its centres.