The charity behind last summer’s penguin-themed art trail in Worcester has thanked the community for helping boost its income in one of the most financially challenging periods in its 40-year history.
This week St Richard’s Hospice revealed that the great Waddle of Worcester raised an incredible £555,499 profit towards the £12m it costs to run the hospice each year.
An independent charity, supporting more than 3,100 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire each year, St Richard’s relies on voluntary support for around 80% of its income with the remainder funded by the NHS.
Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager for St Richard’s Hospice, said: “A campaign with the community at its heart, we are so incredibly grateful to everyone who waddled with us to support our care at an extremely challenging time for hospice finances.
“The sum raised is only possible thanks to the partners and sponsors, penguin purchasers, artists, local schools and community groups and an army of volunteers, crafters and makers who so generously played a part. Not forgetting our brrr-illiant trail-goers who bought a map or the app, supported our Waddle pop up shop or donated to our care.
“Our amazing community rallied around us to make the Waddle a success just as penguins look out for their neighbours in their time of need. Thank you so much for being part of our hospice huddle.”
As well as boosting hospice income, an evaluation of the great Waddle of Worcester has revealed city centre footfall increased by 16 per cent during the trail compared to the same period in 2023.
More than 18,500 maps, apps and sticker books were sold to guide trail-goers around Worcester.
WOW app users alone walked 22,703 miles, taking over 50 million steps, while spending between £245,350 and £385,550 in the city during the trail which ran from July to September 2024.
A survey of app users showed 100 per cent rated the trail positively and 70 per cent explored parts of the city they wouldn’t normally visit, with 1 in 12 opting to stay overnight in Worcester to make the most of their trip.
A separate survey of city businesses saw 87 per cent respond to say the trail had a positive impact on their revenue.
Other findings from the evaluation research include:
- A total of 7,016 people downloaded and paid for the WOW app
- 81 per cent of app users visited the WOW more than once, with 60 per cent in groups of three or more
- 92 per cent of app users said WOW was a good event to have in the city
- More than half of app users (66 per cent) said WOW influenced their decision to visit Worcester
- 72 per cent of app users spent £30 or more during their WOW visit
- Half of design submissions by artists were from Worcestershire or the surrounding area – while a third of the final penguins were decorated by county artists
- 98 per cent of app users said they would return to Worcester if there was to be another trail in the future
- 40 Schools and Community Groups took part in the Education Programme, involving more than 8,000 young people
- 4,336 crafted and donated items were sold or exchanged for donations in the Waddle of Worcester pop-up shop.
Forty large penguins and one chick raised an incredible £330,000 for St Richard’s Hospice at auction in October. This followed the eight-week trail featuring 82 penguins large and small. The great Waddle of Worcester was a Wild in Art project, brought to the city by St Richard’s Hospice.
The great Waddle of Worcester was supported by Presenting Partners; Crowngate, DRPG, Worcester City Council and Worcestershire Ambassadors, Community and Education Partner; Worcester BID and Media Partners; the Worcester News and BBC Hereford & Worcester.
For more information about St Richard’s Hospice visit www.strichards.org.uk