12:00, 13 January 2026
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
Victoria Centre has announced Nottinghamshire Mind as its Charity of the Year for 2026, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to supporting communities across Nottingham.
The announcement follows the successful completion of a two year charity partnership with Nottinghamshire Hospice, during which the centre raised a total of £24,972 in support of vital local services. Fundraising reached new heights in 2025 thanks to a series of initiatives including a Christmas gift wrap activation, the Christmas Mog Trail and a toy collection to support families and children in need.
After a strong first year of the partnership, Victoria Centre raised £14,139.96 through a wide range of activities. These included team fundraising efforts such as Christmas Jumper Day and an in-house tuck shop, alongside customer-led initiatives including a dedicated charity collection space and public donations.
A standout moment of the partnership was the return of the Christmas event Nordic Brights. The immersive 20 minute light trail proved extremely popular, attracting 8,624 bookings. Although free to attend, visitors were encouraged to make voluntary donations, with all proceeds supporting Nottinghamshire Hospice. The event alone raised £5,161, making a significant contribution to the overall total.
Nigel Wheatley, Centre Director at Victoria Centre, said: “Our partnership with Nottinghamshire Hospice has been about far more than fundraising. It has raised awareness of the essential palliative and end of life care the Hospice provides, strengthened our connection with the local community and supported individuals and families during some of their most challenging moments.
“As we conclude this partnership, we are proud of the impact we have made together and look forward to building on this momentum in 2026 through our new Charity of the Year, Nottinghamshire Mind, where we aim to support mental health and wellbeing across the community.”
Nicola Rea, Chief Executive Officer at Nottinghamshire Mind, added: “We are delighted to be named Victoria Centre’s Charity of the Year for 2026 and look forward to working together. Partnerships like this are crucial in helping us raise awareness of mental health, reduce stigma and ensure more people across Nottinghamshire can access the support they need, when they need it.”
For more information about the partnership and ways to donate, visit https://victoria-centre.com/our-chosen-charity-nottinghamshire-mind.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Mind. This is a leading UK mental health charity providing advice, support and advocacy to anyone experiencing mental health problems. It works to raise awareness, challenge stigma and improve mental health services nationwide. Learn more here.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This is the largest grassroots mental health organisation in the United States. They support individuals and families through education, advocacy and community based programmes. Discover their work here.
Mental Health Innovations. This is an international organisation delivering digital mental health support through accessible online services. It helps people around the world manage their mental health by providing early intervention and self help tools. Find out more here.
