Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal

Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal is the dedicated Bristol Children’s Hospital charity. It runs a multi-million-pound portfolio of investment in partnership with the children’s hospital and its neonatal intensive care unit at St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol. Bristol Children’s Hospital is a national centre of excellence. It treats over 100,000 patients each year from across the entire South West and South Wales region and is home to some of the most exciting advancements in global paediatric healthcare. Babies, children and young adults with highly complex medical conditions – from rare genetic disorders, neurological conditions and congenital heart disease to traumatic injuries, cancer and kidney disease – are cared for around the clock by leaders in their respective fields. Just like Bristol, the hospital is a hub of innovation, where every day these experts pave the way for sick children through a vast network of research projects with international impact. It’s thanks to The Grand Appeal the hospital is a pioneer in so many fields today. Through its unique, trailblazing partnership with Aardman Animations, The Grand Appeal has diversified its funding streams to bring in the most advanced medical equipment, including the UK’s first-ever Cardiac Hybrid Theatre in a paediatric setting, an intraoperative 3T MRi Scanner – one of only three in children’s hospitals across Europe – and a ground-breaking neuro-robot, which helps neurosurgeons perform major operations with pin-point precision. Independently, The Grand Appeal runs three family accommodation facilities and employs over 20 specialist support staff who work on the ground in the hospital to ensure every aspect of hospital life is centred on the well being of the young patients and their families. It also works with the hospital to create a child-friendly environment and a programme of arts, music and play therapies to ensure the very best patient experience. Nationally and internationally, The Grand Appeal is widely known for its multi award-winning sculpture trails – Gromit Unleashed, Shaun in the City, and Gromit Unleashed 2. Through these pioneering trails, the charity has brought millions of people to Bristol, put its diverse culture on the world stage, and enhanced Bristol’s tourism economy. Its legacy lies in the charity’s award-winning retail operation, based at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, from which profits go towards making the hospital the best it can be. The Gromit Unleashed Shop continues to thrive in the face of growing retail downturn for the more traditional enterprises. All this, while raising significant fundraising income for Bristol Children’s Hospital. The Grand Appeal is now at an exciting stage. It’s embarking on its next phase of charitable and commercial activity to support the multi-million-pound expansion of Bristol Children’s Hospital. The hospital’s position at the front of global paediatric medicine for the next decade and beyond is entirely dependent on the charity’s portfolio of investment and specialist supporting services. If you’d like to find out more about The Grand Appeal and Bristol Children’s Hospital, please contact Helen Haskell, our Corporate Head of Fundraising. And if you’re wondering about our plans for another trail, to quote our famous inventor, “That’s top secret Gromit lad!”