Celebrating 10 Years of BCHC Charity
BCHC Charity turned 10 years old on Friday 6 March, and we thought it would be a great opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the charity's achievements over the last 10 years.
Since becoming an active charity in 2016, the Charity Team has raised over £4.2million through fundraising, donations, and grants; take a look at just a handful of the ways we've used those funds to make a difference across Birmingham:
- Bereavement support items for families accessing end of life care, such as the redecoration and refurbishment of a bereavement suite at Moseley Hall Hospital, bereavement memory boxes, hand and foot casts for families to create beautiful keepsakes of their loved ones, and more
- Conversation amplifiers for community patients to feel more independent and be able to better engage with their healthcare providers
- An adapted playground and adapted bicycle for the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre so that children accessing the Paediatric Amputee Service can practice using their new limbs through play, building confidence and helping to improve mobility
- Support for Learning Disabilities services through sensory lighting, toys, and equipment, the refurbishment of a therapy room at Greenfields Centre, publication of the Book of Inspiration , and more
-
Providing dental services with toys and games for waiting rooms, dental hygiene support bags for the BCHC Dental Service for Homeless Adults…
…and lots more! Over the last week, the Charity Team has been celebrating the birthday by treating Team BCHC staff to some fabulous freebies courtesy of Starbucks (via NHS Charities Together) and the Goody Bag Co., as well as offering tasty treats, and information on how we can help make a difference for patients, service users, and staff.
Associate Director of Charities, Sarah Binks, says, “It's been wonderful to go out to different bases as part of our birthday celebrations and give out donated treats to Team BCHC colleagues. Over the years, we've worked hard to spread as much sparkle across the Trust as we can, improving patient experience, enhancing their care, and supporting the staff who treat them. It has been great to catch up with those who have shared our journey. We're very excited to continue making a difference for lots more years to come!”
Nussrat Parveen, Family Liaison Officer with the CCN and Palliative Care Team, said, “A big thank you to BCHC Charity for providing us with some lovely goodies. They have been really appreciated by the staff working at Lansdowne Health Centre. We are also very grateful for the continued support you've given us over the years; it truly makes a difference to our team. Thank you again!”
Thursday 5 March saw the launch of the very first issue of BCHC Charity magazine, which collects a number of stories of how the charity has impacted patients, service users, and staff by providing the 'extras' that bring a smile over the last 10 years. Charity Engagement and Communications Lead, Stacey Taylor, says, “Working on this magazine, it's been an absolute joy to look back over 10 years of hard work and dedication to reflect on the ways BCHC Charity has positively impacted the Trust. We're a relatively small charity, staff-wise, and the magazine is a wonderful testament to the amazing things we've achieved!”
The charity also launched our Nova's Birthday raffle; for just £1 per ticket you could win one of three prize packs, containing activity vouchers, restaurant vouchers, and more to be announced! Contact the Charity Team to find out more and get your tickets today.
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of our star supporters over the last 10 years; whether you've held a fundraiser, donated money or items, volunteered your time, or are a Team BCHC colleague who has requested funding to help make a difference across the Trust, we couldn't do what we do without your support. Thank you so much, and here's to many more years of spreading the sparkle!