29 MAY 2025: Award-winning hospitality business, Splendid Hospitality Group (SHG), was honoured with a Cash for Kids Gold Disc award in recognition of recent staff fundraising achievements at its 38 KFC franchise restaurants in Midlands and the Northeast.
The special presentation of the £34K cheque and Cash for Kids gold disc took place at The Grand, York, the city’s only five-star hotel which Splendid Hospitality Group also owns. The hotel is also supporting the charity after SHG recently became Cash for Kids’ first ever nationwide hospitality partner and the charity also became the company’s first group wide charity partner.
The charity, operated by Bauer Media, supports children and young people affected by poverty, illness and neglect. In 2024 alone, the charity supported more than half a million (509,580) children.
The groupwide partnership commenced as part of Cash for Kids Day on 1 May. SHG’s hotels, restaurants and care home teams participated in a weeklong range of fundraising activities including marathons, cycling challenges, quiz nights, raffles and bake sales.
Seven members from Splendid’s regional teams in the Midlands and Northeast joined Ben Clayton, Managing Director for Splendid Restaurants, Jags Manhota, Operations Director and Sarah Jones, Talent and Engagement Manager to present the cheque to the children’s charity and pick up the award.
A whole programme of activities is in the pipeline at SHG for the rest of 2025 ahead of Mission Christmas, Cash for Kids’ nationwide appeal to ensure every child and young person wakes up with a present on Christmas morning.
Ben Clayton, Managing Director at Splendid Restaurants, says, “Giving back to the communities we serve is hugely important to us, which is why collaborating with Cash for Kids is so brilliant. All the money raised stays within the local area and goes to those young people who need it most. We are truly humbled to receive a Gold Disc for the part our restaurant teams have played in helping this incredible children’s charity.”
Deshan Karunaratne, CFO for Splendid Hospitality Group, comments,
“As a family-run business, supporting young children affected by poverty, neglect and illness means a lot to Splendid and the Boghani Family. That is why we are pleased to have just strengthened our relationship with Cash for Kids by working with them as our first ever national groupwide charity partner across our hotels, restaurants and care homes.”
Lauren Baxter, Partnerships Manager and Regional Charity Manager at Cash for Kids, adds, “The dedication shown by Splendid Hospitality Group employees at its KFC restaurants across the Northeast and Midlands in recent years has been nothing short of spectacular. Its dedicated staff across 38 restaurants have rallied behind all our campaigns, taking on incredible physical challenges, baking, dressing up, running raffles, volunteering at fundraising events and so much more!
“The money raised has been distributed across the Northeast and Midlands to help fight Holiday Hunger during the school holidays and provide festive gifts to hundreds of children living in poverty who would otherwise have received nothing on Christmas Day.
“We are beyond grateful for this vital support and pleased that our impactful partnership is expanding across Splendid Hospitality Group’s entire organisation across the nation. We are looking forward to working together to help even more disadvantaged children across the UK.”
Every year, Splendid Hospitality Group works with more than 50 charities across its businesses on a local level as part of its commitment to having a meaningful impact in society.
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About Splendid Hospitality Group
Splendid Hospitality Group, controlled and directed by Shiraz and Nadeem Boghani, is the owner, operator, and developer of a portfolio of 24 hotels with over 2500 bedrooms as well as 38 quick service restaurants (KFC) and three care homes (Splendid Healthcare).
It is one of the UK’s fastest-growing privately-owned hospitality groups, which has made a name for itself through the design, construction, and operation of a full range of hotel styles and locations across the UK, ranging from limited service to luxury. The group enjoys the support of major franchisors such as Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Accor. The portfolio includes York’s only five-star hotel, The Grand, York and Hilton London Bankside, a phenomenal 5-star property on London’s Southbank.
About Cash for Kids:
Cash for Kids is Bauer Media’s charity in the UK. In 2024 the charity raised over £20 million, supporting more than 509,580 children affected by poverty, illness, abuse, neglect or who have additional needs.
Bauer Radio’s Cash for Kids registered charity (England, Wales & NI) 1122062, SC041421 (East Scotland) & SC003334 (West Scotland)
www.cashforkids.org.uk
