Learning the Joy of Giving

Working for a charity means that I do, on occasion, find myself standing outside a supermarket, or a theatre, or at the entrance to a country show, grinning at strangers and holding a brightly coloured collection bucket. 

There are three main things that these experiences have taught me:

a)   When standing still for long periods of time outdoors, two pairs of socks are better than one.

b)   Never judge a book by its cover – very often the people who, on first impression, you think are least likely to donate are the ones who open their purses and empty in the contents.

c)    A high proportion of the people who put money into your bucket will be under the age of 10. This is often initiated by the child themselves – tugging on their parent’s arm and pointing at the bucket until a coin appears. Or a parent will give their child a coin, encouraging them to put it in. This valuable early introduction to the importance of charitable giving will sometimes lead to a stand-off while the diminutive donor looks down at the shiny coin, and up at bearded bucket-bearer, and then down at the shiny coin again, wondering if it would in fact be better off in their pocket… 

The coins always end up in the bucket, though, and the joy of giving – from a very early age – is something that we have the pleasure of seeing time and again.

This year we have been overwhelmed by the number of young people who have been getting involved with fundraising for Nottingham Hospitals Charity. My colleagues and I have had the honour of meeting Abbie who told her family and friends that she didn’t want any presents for her 9th birthday and asked instead that money be donated to Nottingham Children’s Hospital; 10 year-old Ben who has set himself the challenge of running, cycling and swimming 90 miles this year to raise funds for the children’s cancer wards; and 4 year-old Finlay who decided he wanted to take on the Robin Hood Mini Marathon to support the Neonatal Unit that looked after both him and his baby sister when they were born prematurely.

These inspirational stories of pint-sized fundraisers go on and on. Take 6 year-old Dan, for instance. Tragically his older sister Bella passed away on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Nottingham Children’s Hospital in 2015 after suffering from a sudden brain aneurysm. She was just 7 years old. Ever since, Bella’s family have raised money for the Unit in her memory, and dedicated Dan has been at the centre of this – taking on a Junior Mud Run last year and even climbing Snowdon earlier this year. This young man is a true hero.

We also see schools, and businesses, teaching young people the importance of social responsibility and charitable giving from an early age. A few months ago, our friends at Sainsbury’s in Beeston initiated an enterprise challenge for students at Bluecoat Academy and Alderman White School. Young people were given a £20 voucher and encouraged to use their business and fundraising skills to grow this initial investment in support of the Big Appeal for Nottingham Children’s Hospital. Incredibly this resulted in the schools raising more than £2,500 – an awesome return on investment!

And just last weekend 6 year-old Evie took part in the Robin Hood Mini Marathon, in support of her Dad who was also running the Half Marathon to raise money for Nottingham Hospitals Charity, twelve months after having major life-saving lung surgery. Evie wasn’t the only one doing the Mini Marathon, though…she also managed to convince 361 other pupils from her school, West Bridgford Infants and Junior School, to do it with her, in support of the hospitals that saved her Dad’s life. We could all do well to learn some of Evie’s impressive persuasive powers! 

A BIG CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR NOTTINGHAM CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

If you would like to join me – getting inspired by people who are a fraction of your age! – then perhaps your company would be interested in sponsoring our BIG Christmas Party this year for Nottingham Children’s Hospital? This is a truly unique opportunity to do something special for families who have had a very tough time; to celebrate the amazing care provided for the young people of Nottinghamshire by our Children’s Hospital; and to thank some of these incredible young fundraising heroes.

We are asking if 10 Nottingham businesses would each put up £1,000 to make this project happen and to put smiles on the faces of lots of families this Christmas. So far – thanks to Specsavers and Nottingham City Transport – we are a fifth of the way there. Can your company help too? 

In return for your support we will give you great promotion in advance and at the event, plus there will be the opportunity for staff to get involved with the organising and running of the party. Please do get in touch if your company would like to come on board too, we’d love to work with you - you can email me at nick.lawford@nuh.nhs.uk or call me on 07812 269461.