17 team members from across our studios have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, raising more than £4,000 for Thomas Pocklington Trust following our ongoing collaboration with the charity on research, engagement and inclusive design. The challenge took place on 15 May 2026 and saw colleagues from across our four studios take on one of the UK’s best-known endurance hikes in support of Thomas Pocklington Trust, a charity working to create equality for blind and partially sighted people in every aspect of society. The walk marked the culmination of six months of training, bringing colleagues together from across the practice for a demanding 12-hour challenge that saw all 17 team members support one another over the peaks and complete the hike as a team.
As part of that preparation, we completed training walks along Hadrian’s Wall and up Helvellyn. The Yorkshire Three Peaks proved to be an extremely tough challenge, taking 12 hours to complete, but the team stuck together throughout, kept spirits high and crossed the finish line together. Even the sunshine made an appearance. The fundraising effort follows our ongoing collaboration with Thomas Pocklington Trust. Through research, talks and community engagement, the partnership has helped deepen our understanding of accessibility, inclusivity and the realities of different lived experiences. Over the years, we have worked closely with Thomas Pocklington Trust to sense check designs and strengthen our inclusive design guidelines, helping improve our understanding of how blind and partially sighted people experience public buildings and everyday tasks through lived experience.
The collaboration has also given us the opportunity to build genuine relationships with members of the Trust, something that has been both valuable and rewarding. We would strongly encourage other public-facing organisations to explore the support available through Thomas Pocklington Trust and the positive impact it can have on accessibility and inclusive practice. We decided to take on the challenge as a way to give something back and support the charity’s ongoing work.
Judith Atkinson, Senior Architect, said:
“Over the last few years, it has been a privilege to work alongside Thomas Pocklington Trust and learn from their insight, experience and generosity. That collaboration has helped us better understand the importance of accessibility and inclusive thinking, not just in design, but in the way we work more widely. Taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge felt like a fitting way to support the charity and give something back. It was incredibly tough and took us 12 hours to complete, but it was also a brilliant day and a real team effort from start to finish. 17 of us took part and everyone stuck together, kept each other going and stayed in great spirits throughout. We’re proud to have raised more than £4,000 for such an important cause, and even prouder to have done it together.”
Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national sight loss charity, working together with blind and partially sighted people to drive social change in education, employment and everyday life. Its network of Sight Loss Councils, led by blind and partially sighted volunteers, work with businesses and services to ensure what they do is accessible and inclusive.
Jack Moffat, Engagement Manager North East at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said:
“We have worked closely with GT3 Architects, and it has been a significant learning curve for both our team and theirs. Through this collaboration, we’ve developed a much deeper understanding of the importance of embedding accessible features into design from the outset. By delivering sight loss awareness sessions led by people with lived experience, we’ve been able to share practical insight into what truly makes environments accessible. We are incredibly grateful to the team for their ongoing support, and for taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for Thomas Pocklington Trust. Their commitment will directly support the work of Sight Loss Councils across the North East and Cumbria, helping us continue to drive meaningful change.”
Through the challenge, we have raised vital funds for Thomas Pocklington Trust while also helping shine a light on the charity’s work and the importance of creating a more accessible and inclusive society.
