Business leaders, community champions and influential figures from across the Humber came together at the historic Hotham Hall this month, raising an incredible £46,838.75 to support the future of award-winning charity CatZero and the communities it serves.
The inaugural CatZero Garden Party welcomed guests from across the region for an evening of fundraising, networking and celebration, united by a shared commitment to tackling some of the Humber’s biggest social challenges, including youth unemployment, family hardship and social isolation.
Funds raised from the event will support CatZero’s £100,000 campaign to undertake essential refit works on its iconic 72-foot Challenge yacht, ensuring the vessel can continue transforming lives for at least another 25 years, as well as the programmes run throughout the year.
Hosted in the stunning grounds of Hotham Hall, the event featured a charity auction led by renowned auctioneer and BBC television personality Caroline Hawley, alongside a raffle, entertainment and opportunities for guests to learn more about CatZero’s life-changing work as past participants and employees took to the stage.
The event comes at a time when demand for support has never been greater. Across the UK, more than one million young people aged 16 to 24 are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), while increasing numbers of families are facing complex challenges that impact wellbeing, confidence and future opportunities.1
At the heart of CatZero’s work is its unique approach to personal development. Through sailing, adventure learning and intensive support programmes, the charity helps young people, families, veterans and adults facing unemployment build confidence, resilience and self-belief.
The impact is significant. More than 65 per cent of young people who complete CatZero programmes move into positive destinations including employment, education or training. Independent analysis by Social Value Engine has also shown that for every £1 invested in CatZero, the charity generates £8.04 in social value, creating more than £6.1 million of social impact in 2025.
This year, CatZero’s impact was recognised when the organisation was named Charity of the Year at the Hull & East Yorkshire Business Awards.
Behind the statistics are stories of real lives changed.
One parent who received support through CatZero’s Family Development Programme said: “It felt like, for the first time, someone listened to me. When I first met Sarah from CatZero, I was a mess. She supported me with attending big meetings and helped me with my parenting through Triple P (The Positive Parenting Programme). She made me realise more about being a mum and what it’s all about.”
Speaking after the event, CatZero Director of Sailing Danny Watson said: “The support shown by the Humber business community demonstrates what can be achieved when people come together behind a common purpose.
Behind every statistic is a real person, a young person struggling to find their place, a family facing challenges, or someone who has lost confidence in themselves. The funds raised will help ensure our programmes can run and our yacht remains a vehicle for change for decades to come, giving thousands more people the opportunity to discover what they are capable of.”
CatZero Chief Executive Adrian Tallon added: “This event was about much more than fundraising. It was about bringing together people who care deeply about the future of our region and who recognise the importance of investing in people.
We are incredibly grateful to every sponsor, donor, volunteer and guest who supported the Garden Party. Their generosity brings us significantly closer to our refit target and helps ensure CatZero can continue delivering life-changing programmes across the Humber for many years to come.”
CatZero extends its sincere thanks to the owners of Hotham Hall and event sponsors Cranswick plc, Andrew Jackson Solicitors, Adams & Green and McInroy & Wood, whose support helped make the event possible. The charity would also like to thank the many local businesses and individuals who donated auction prizes, raffle prizes and their time to ensure the event was such a success.
For nearly 20 years, CatZero has helped thousands of people across the Humber region overcome barriers, improve wellbeing and move towards brighter futures. The funds raised at Hotham Hall will help ensure that work continues for generations to come.
In June of this year, Adrian, Danny and Danny’s son Freddie, plus trustee chair Deb Oxley and other friends of CatZero completed the 170-mile Trans Pennine Trail cycle, raising around £13,000 for the charity – making a total of almost £60,000 raised so far this summer, which will directly impact the local community.
Reference:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/young-people-and-work-interim-report/young-people-and-work-interim-report