How to support patients and staff at Nottingham's hospitals this festive season

There are a whole host of ways to help bring some Christmas magic to patients, families and staff at Nottingham’s NHS hospitals this festive season.

Nottingham Hospitals Charity has launched a range of Christmas fundraising campaigns and events, which people from across Nottinghamshire can get involved in.

Give the gift of joy to children in hospital this festive season by donating to the Grant a Christmas Wish campaign. Donations will help fund age-appropriate toys, craft activities, books and games, to help make hospital stays that bit brighter for young patients, during the festive period and beyond.

Nottingham Hospitals Charity is also holding its first ever Breakfast with Santa at the Queen’s Medical Centre, so that children and families who find themselves in hospital over the Christmas period don’t have to miss out on this special experience.

This takes place on Sunday 8^th December and is a ticketed event, with tickets costing £10 per child. Places must be booked in advance, and money raised will go back towards funding more family-friendly enhancements at Nottingham Children’s Hospital.

For those who would like to do something simple and fun to raise money this festive season, Nottingham Hospitals Charity’s Festive Sock Day will return on Wednesday 4^th December. People across the local community are encouraged to get friends, family and colleagues involved, don their festive footwear, and raise money for their chosen area of Nottingham’s hospitals at the same time.

Nottingham Hospitals Charity’s popular Christmas Tree Recycling scheme also returns this festive season, and is a great way to do something green, recycle used Christmas trees, and help Nottingham’s hospitals at the same time. 

The Charity’s team of volunteers will be collecting used real Christmas trees from across Nottinghamshire from Tuesday 7^th January 2025. Anyone wishing to have their tree collected must register in advance, as spaces fill fast. Trees are collected for a donation from just £10, making it an affordable and convenient way to dispose of unwanted Christmas trees at the end of the festive season.

Finally, for those who want to celebrate or remember someone special this festive season, the Charity’s Lights to Celebrate campaign returns. For a donation from £5, you can write a tribute in honour of a loved one, and dedicate a light on one of the Charity’s virtual Christmas trees at City Hospital or Queen’s Medical Centre.

Sam Cousens, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: “We’re delighted to be back with even more festive fundraising campaigns and events than ever, all in aid of Nottingham’s NHS hospitals.

“Last Christmas the amazing people of Nottinghamshire and beyond helped us raise more than £24,500 to support patients, families and staff at our hospitals, and this year we’d love to raise even more.

“So whether you want to pull on your party socks, bring your family to meet Santa, make a donation, or honour the memory of a loved one at this special time of year, we’d love you to get involved.”