Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity and Deloitte celebrate £200,000 fundraising milestone

Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity (BWHC) is celebrating a major milestone in its charity partnership with Deloitte, with the firm's Bristol team raising an incredible £200,000 to support young patients in hospital.

Now in its fifth year, the charity partnership forms part of Deloitte’s social impact programme and provides vital support to patients and families at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, delivering thousands of hours of additional learning opportunities, helping young patients stay connected to their education and supporting a smoother transition back into mainstream schooling when they return home.

Before the initiative began in 2022, children receiving treatment at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children typically had access to one hour of face-to-face teaching each day. Since then, the programme has transformed the educational experience of more than 1,521 young people, delivering 4,083 specialist sessions in subjects including drama, music, singing and STEM.

The success of the charity partnership has also received national recognition. In 2024, Deloitte employee Jo Hale won the Outstanding Employee Award at the Third Sector Business Charity Awards and earlier this year, the charity partnership was also highly commended in the Short-Term Partnership category at the same awards.

The programme's success has been made possible through the commitment and generosity of Deloitte's Bristol colleagues. In the first three years of the charity partnership alone, the team raised more than £128,000 through challenge events including the Big Bristol Abseil, Great Weston Ride, Bath Half Marathon, Great Bristol Run and the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge.

Most recently, a Deloitte team completed the Cotswold Way Ultra Challenge, with two of the team walking for an incredible 28 hours without sleep, raising more than £13,000.

Alongside fundraising, Deloitte employees have volunteered regularly throughout the initiative, taking part in this unique programme that supports patients and families during their time in hospital.

As the fundraising total reaches £200,000, the charity partnership continues to make a lasting difference to children and families, providing educational opportunities that support learning, wellbeing and recovery during some of the most challenging periods of their lives.

Among those to benefit from the charity partnership is Grante, whose sister Arne spent nine months in the intensive care unit at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Originally from Aberystwyth, Grante had been living in family accommodation in Bristol while her sister received care, and through the programme was able to access in-person drama and STEM sessions alongside her remote schoolwork.

Grante said: “I really liked the drama lessons. You could express yourself, get moving and be really loud. There have been ups and downs and, when things were hard, it was hard to focus. But the school was how I would be in normal life. It helped a lot to get my mind off the hospital and just go back to reality.”

To mark the £200,000 milestone, a celebration event was held at Deloitte's Bristol office on Tuesday 22nd September. Deloitte Bristol staff and partners attended to hear more about the collaboration. The Deloitte team unveiled a storybook they had created, following the journeys of children and families in hospital. The book was created to raise awareness of the difference the programme has made to more than 1,500 young people during their treatment and recovery.

Elaine Gibson, Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships at Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, said: "We're incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone and to recognise the extraordinary commitment shown by the Deloitte Bristol team over the past four years.

“Their fundraising, volunteering and enthusiasm have helped create life-enhancing opportunities for children and young people in hospital, ensuring they can continue learning, exploring their interests and enjoying moments of normality while receiving treatment. Reaching £200,000 is a remarkable achievement, and we are hugely grateful for their ongoing support."

Adam Powell, at Deloitte Bristol, added: “Working with BWHC has been a fantastic example of what we can achieve if we work together to make an impact that matters in the community we live and work in. I am really proud of everyone in the Bristol office who has helped us make a difference.”