The Higgins Group is one of Europe's foremost potato companies, operating out of three sites in the UK - Finningley in Yorkshire, which is the Head Office, Lincolnshire and Scotland, and one in France.

Over recent years, each division of the Group, has, in rotation, chosen a charity for which the whole Group raises money over a twelve-month period. Fund-raising activities have typically included dress down days, raffles, competitions, and a very popular annual hog roast. There has also been one major sponsored event each year. These have taken the form of a gruelling 'Three Peaks Challenge' - scaling Snowdon, Scafell and Ben Nevis in under 24 hours - and a long distance cycle ride from Billingham in Cleveland, via York to Hessle Country Park in Yorkshire; in 2004 it was a sponsored walk around Clumber Park.

These are some of the organisations which have benefitted from the Higgins Group charity fundraising:

2001: The Richard Foundation, a charity which helped to build and equip a Childrens's Hospice in Yorkshire.

2002: A Third World charity working in Cameroon, Africa, captured the imagination of Higgins Group employees. The money raised enabled the Group to buy and dispatch a supply of good quality seed potatoes from Higgins growers and a 4-wheel drive vehicle to distribute the seed.

2003: Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance service is wholly funded by public donations. The money raised helped towards the £1 million needed annually to keep the helicopter in the skies.

2004: St John's Hospice in Doncaster, which enables terminally ill patients and their families to receive the care and support they need to spend their last days with dignity and without pain.

2007: South Yorkshire Flood Victim Relief Fund.

2008: Doncaster Cancer Detection Trust.  Following a number of personal experiences by staff and their families, the decision was made to support this local cancer charity for 2008.  A number of fund raising schemes are already in action and, overall we are optimistic that a generous donation will be made by the year end.