What an incredible 18 months it has been for our Orange Tree family!
We are absolutely bursting with pride to announce that, thanks to the kindness, generosity and enthusiasm of our wonderful families, children and staff, we have raised an amazing £8,181.94 for The Harley Jae Trust! Across our six nurseries in Hucknall, Derby, Mickleover, Stoke, Burnaston and Burton, everyone has come together to support a cause that means so much to us.
The Harley Jae Trust does incredible work supporting children living with life-limiting conditions and their families, helping to provide care, comfort and support when it matters most.
Together We Helped to Make a Difference!
From summer garden parties and festive fairs to cake sales, raffles and collecting spare pennies, every little contribution has helped us reach this fantastic total.
Whether you bought a raffle ticket, enjoyed a slice of cake, donated some loose change or simply came along to support one of our events, you’ve played a part in something truly special.
Here’s a little look back at some of our favourite fundraising memories!
Taking to the Skies for Harley: The Skydive Highlight!
One of the most extraordinary highlights of our entire fundraising effort took place on 11th October 2025, when six brave staff members took a leap of faith for Harley! Jumping out of an aeroplane, our thrill-seeking team raised a staggering £3,581 towards our grand total.
To support our skydivers on the ground, our community rallied together in full force:
• Bacon & Sausage Cobs: Selling hot bacon and sausage cobs alongside morning coffees to hungry supporters.
• Coffee Machine Raffle: Raising extra funds by raffling off a brand-new coffee machine.
Seeing our team push past their limits in the air, and seeing our parents and staff rally behind them on the ground, was an unforgettable demonstration of love, courage, and dedication!
Seasonal Events & Garden Parties
There’s nothing quite like bringing our Orange Tree families together for a day of fun, laughter and making memories!
Our summer garden parties and seasonal fairs have been a wonderful way to celebrate our nursery communities while raising money for such a special cause.
And what fantastic events they have been!
• Our staff and children have also enjoyed “Jazzy Christmas Jumper Days” & “Pyjama Days”: brightening up winter days while collecting donations
• Present Dash (13th Dec 2025): A group of dedicated staff and their children walked all the way from Market Square in Nottingham to the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) to personally deliver Christmas presents to the children’s ward.
• Easter Egg Appeals: Our teams across Hucknall, Burton, and Burnaston collected baskets of Easter goodies to bring smiles to hospitalised children over Easter
Little Acts of Kindness Every Day
It wasn't just the large events that made a difference! Day in and day out, our settings stayed engaged through:
• The Penny Bottle Challenge: Filling bottles with spare change, showing that every single penny counts.
• Cake Sales & Donation Spaces: Set up directly in our nursery reception areas alongside educational facts about the vital work of The Harley Jae Trust
Inspired by Kindness, Nurtured by Community
At the heart of everything we do at The Orange Tree Day Nursery is our core commitment: Inspire. Nurture. Grow.
While the financial total is staggering, what makes us proudest is watching our little ones experience these values in real-time. Through these events, our children have learned about empathy, kindness, sharing, and helping others. Seeing their eyes light up as they took part in activities to support other children has been the most rewarding part of this entire journey.
A MASSIVE thank you to all of our wonderful parents and staff for your generosity, fundraising efforts, donations, and unwavering support. We genuinely couldn't have done it without you!
And a very special thank you to The Harley Jae Trust for joining us at our events, supporting our fundraising, and always sharing fantastic ideas with us along the way.