Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s charity, Brighter Futures, is asking local people to help improve the lives of children visiting the Swindon Hospital.
The charity is hoping to raise £20,000 in just one week through the Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest match-funding campaign
The funds raised will go towards the hospital's Way Forward Programme, a project aimed at expanding and improving the urgent and emergency care services at the hospital.
During the Christmas Challenge week, which is running from midday on Tuesday, November 29 to midday Tuesday, December 6, all donations made online through the campaign website will be matched pound for pound.
This means that local people can make double the impact, resulting in a huge difference to children in their time of need when they are being treated at Great Western Hospital’s new Urgent Treatment Centre.
This will fund new play and sensory equipment for children using the Urgent Treatment Centre. This play equipment will reduce anxiety, stress and boredom for young patients and their families.
Lauren Watts, emergency nurse practitioner at the hospital, said: "A happy and entertained child helps to reduce parents’ stress and anxiety, it also makes life much easier for practitioners to assess the child as they are calmer and less anxious about being in a hospital facility. It is very important for me to give children a positive hospital visit."
Cat Weaver is the associate director of fundraising and voluntary services.
She said: “We are so excited to be part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge. It’s a brilliant way to make a difference to children receiving care at Great Western Hospital’s new Urgent Treatment Centre. Thanks to generous funders, we have up to £10,000 of matched funds available.
"If you can support us through the Big Give, your donations will be doubled and will have twice the impact. Anything you can give us this Christmas will be hugely appreciated and make a real difference to children when they need it most.”
Anyone who wishes to make a donation during the Christmas Challenge week and make double the impact can contribute via the following link - https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a056900002Ni3jIAAR.
Donations must be made online with a debit card, credit card, Apple pay, or Google pay.
Further information can be found at www.brighterfutures.nhs.uk.
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