Generosity has been ‘overwhelming’ as support continues for children in local hospitals

Throughout November and December, The Alan Nuttall Partnership has been collecting toys and gifts to donate to children, teens and young adults having to stay in local hospitals over the Christmas period.

As part of its Christmas Gift Tag Appeal, Flexeserve Partners Harvinder Chahal, Holly Francis, Jane Cornwell and Julie Cartwright are pictured delivering gifts for children staying in University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire over the festive period

Originally an initiative of the Partnership’s CEOs in 2023, donating £1,000 worth of toys to University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and Dudley-based Russells Hall Hospital, this has now grown into something even greater.

“Following last year’s donations, our Partners’ desires to give back to the children, their families and the hospitals in 2024 was staggering,” Hayley Evans, Head of People said. “Their generosity has been overwhelming since donations began in November. It’s created such a wonderful sense of festive spirit and giving across the Partnership.”

The 2024 initiative, the Christmas Gift Tag Appeal, enabled Partners to give a range of meaningful gifts by collecting a tag from their respective offices, following the specific instructions and choosing a gift that ensured every child received something that was right for them.

Nuttall Partners Carl Fallows, Dan Vangeen, Matt Hornblower, Suzanne Ward and Tim Parkes are pictured delivering gifts donated through its Christmas Gift Tag Appeal to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley for children staying over the festive period

“I was really hoping to be picked to help deliver the gifts,” Purchasing Manager, Jane Cornwell, who assisted in the delivery of the gifts in Hinckley, said. “The entire experience was so humbling, from seeing the strength of the families to the incredible staff creating magic for the children every day. As a mother myself, I’m so glad we’ve been able to help in some small way.”

With over 150 tags taken from their offices in Dudley and Hinckley, the appeal was a complete success. However, to the surprise of the team organising it, the number of gifts they received significantly outweighed the number of tags available. With many Partners choosing to donate multiple gifts and give whatever they could, it has been a huge showing of support for their local communities.

The donated gifts were delivered to the hospitals on 13 December in Dudley and 16 December in Hinckley. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and Russells Hall Hospital also received donations of £750 each from the Executive Board and the Partnership.

“I have been touched by the generosity of our Partners during the Christmas period and was inspired to do more,” Finance Director, Darren Emms, who joined the Partnership’s CEOs in monetary donations, stated. “It’s great to be part of a business where so many want to make a difference.”

Joint CEOs of The Alan Nuttall Partnership, Matt Hornblower and Jamie Joyce, echoed Darren’s sentiments, and were excited to support their local hospitals again after helping to deliver their gifts in 2023.

Matt Hornblower, when asked about returning to Russells Hall Hospital, said: “It’s such a bittersweet feeling. You wish these young people and their families didn’t have to experience this, but it’s so inspiring to see the care and attention they’re given by the incredible staff here in Dudley.”

Hayley concluded, “We’d like to extend our sincerest thanks to every Partner that took the time and effort to donate a gift, and wish everyone within our local community a very merry Christmas and a fantastic start to 2025.”