Festive breakfast gives young patients a boost

Breakfast with Santa returned to Nottingham Children’s Hospital, kicking off our festive season! Now in its second year, the event was even bigger and brighter, doubling in size and welcoming more than 60 children and their families.

Unlike typical Breakfast with Santa events, which usually take place in large public venues and can be difficult for hospital patients to attend, this specially created celebration brought Christmas into the Children’s Hospital itself. Open to everyone - patients, siblings, supporters and local families - the event not only created magical memories but raised vital funds for Nottingham Children’s Hospital through ticket sales.

Thanks to both ticket purchases and our Pay It Forward scheme, supporters were also able to gift experiences to young patients who might otherwise have missed out, ensuring even more children were able to join in the festive fun.

For children who weren’t well enough to join the festivities in person, Santa made sure they didn’t miss out. After breakfast, he took time to visit the wards, delivering gifts and festive cheer to young patients at their bedsides. 

Downstairs, families enjoyed a welcoming Christmas atmosphere, complete with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a team of joyful elves. Children gathered for story time with Santa, and each received a special gift, helping to bring moments of happiness and normality at what can be a challenging time for many families.

One parent, returning for the second year, shared how much the event means to her family:
“We came last year and it’s lovely to see how much this event has grown. My daughter is autistic and doesn’t cope well with big Santa events, so she loves coming to this one and talks about it all the time. We love it.”

For our Charity team, seeing so many families smiling and celebrating together is what makes the event so meaningful. Michelle Dorman, our Senior Community Fundraising Manager said:
“To see everyone, at a time when they wouldn’t always be smiling or able to come together and enjoy those moments, means so much. That’s why we do it.”

This magical morning simply wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible generosity of our community. A huge thank you to the local businesses who have already begun dropping off donated gifts - your kindness helps make events like this possible. We’re also grateful to Distinct Recruitment, who sent a team of elves to bring some extra festive magic to the day, alongside our amazing volunteers who give their time and energy to support our families.

A special thank you also goes to Say So Photography for taking all the official photos, donating their time to support the event, and providing families with their official photos free of charge.

And the festive season doesn’t stop here. We’ve got plenty more Christmas activities, events and opportunities coming up, offering even more ways for you to make a difference to Nottingham’s NHS Hospitals this winter.