The Children’s Hospital Charity (TCHC) has been a longstanding pillar of support for Sheffield Children’s Hospital, playing a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of young patients across the region. Behind the scenes, TCHC collaborates extensively with South Yorkshire’s business community, forging connections and partnerships that are much more than transactional – as unLTD discovered last month in conversation with TCHC’s Philanthropy Manager, Caitlin Hallatt, and BIDBI’s Partner Relations Manager, Dan Laver.
In a café just a few hundred yards from Sheffield Children’s Hospital – now more prominent than ever with its recently opened £6m helipad – Caitlin explains to unLTD how partnerships with local businesses provide invaluable support to the charity, extending well beyond cash donations.
“We want to make sure that businesses know how much we value the time they give us; we’re so grateful and lucky that so many are willing to offer their time, expertise and input into the work we do to support Sheffield Children’s.” From dedicating hours to decorating and displaying snowflakes across the region to providing feedback and materials for campaigns, these relationships are instrumental in keeping the charity’s work visible and innovative.
Among these valued partners is BIDBI (Bag It Don’t Bin It), a Sheffield-based eco-friendly tote bag and apparel company that has become one of the charity’s closest collaborators. “When I started two years ago, one of my goals was to form close relationships with Sheffield charities,” explains Dan. “Working with the Children’s Hospital Charity just felt natural. As well as having my own personal connection, as so many parents do, both organisations care about both community impact and sustainable practices. Working with them, what really impressed me was how open and receptive the team at the charity have been to our ideas.”
Dan describes how BIDBI’s involvement with TCHC has evolved over time, from simply supporting events to contributing products and expertise for charity initiatives. Initially, the company supplied their trademark eco-friendly bags, but as the relationship grew, BIDBI began producing branded merchandise such as t-shirts for runners supporting the charity and even golf towels for their annual Celebrity Golf Day. “I didn’t even know what a golf towel was at first!” he laughs. “But we worked together to source, design and print something that was both functional and on-brand for the charity’s event. It’s a really collaborative relationship; we’re able to offer short notice runs and contribute our expertise in production to help support their goals. It not only benefits the charity in terms of sustainability and cost, but enables BIDBI to explore new product lines, making the partnership mutually beneficial too!”
“I think what we’ve tried to do more of is bring a lot of the stuff we used to outsource back to Sheffield,” Caitlin adds. “We’re really conscious of being more sustainable and proactively supporting local businesses. We’ve got an amazing platform to shout about the incredible work our partners are doing in the community.”
Beyond BIDBI, TCHC has engaged with a diverse range of businesses, each bringing unique contributions to the charity’s initiatives. Recent collaborations with Sheffield independent Bullion Chocolate and artist Pete McKee have produced limited-edition chocolate snowflakes available to buy. Birdhouse Tea, another local favourite, has partnered with the charity to offer bespoke blends and host events, while Cambridge Street Collective has provided space and facilities for charity-led family cooking classes and nutritional workshops.
With Christmas approaching, the charity is entering its busiest season, highlighted by one of its most popular initiatives – the annual snowflake scheme – which exemplifies how the charity collaborates with partners to inspire region-wide engagement. Each year, festive snowflakes illuminate the hospital, local businesses and public spaces across Sheffield and South Yorkshire, turning the long-running campaign into a seasonal tradition for many residents and businesses alike.
“The snowflake campaign has become something people look forward to every year,” Caitlin shares. “It’s really part of Sheffield’s Christmas now.” This event not only raises important funds but strengthens community bonds, with businesses sponsoring snowflakes and volunteering to install them throughout the city.
Another upcoming festive event that unites the community is Glow in the Park, which brings together families, businesses and volunteers for an evening fun run beginning in Endcliffe Park. On 10 December, runners will don brightly coloured attire and head out on the 5km course, creating a vivid display of solidarity for the hospital. “Glow in the Park is probably my favourite event,” Caitlin shares. “Everyone’s so happy, the kids raise so much money and it’s become a big part of the community’s Christmas traditions. It’s about raising funds but also about bringing people together for a shared purpose.”
Looking forward, TCHC plans to continue expanding its community initiatives and partnerships. Upcoming projects include the launch of the National Centre for Child Health Technology, a ground breaking facility focused on advancing paediatric health through technology. Scheduled to open at Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park, the centre will develop treatments for some of the biggest health modern-day health challenges including obesity, mental health, health inequalities, disabilities and cancer. “The charity has committed to raising £2 million towards this initiative. The NCCHT is set to be a global first, and it speaks to our commitment to continually find ways to serve the community and improve children’s health,” Caitlin explains.
For local businesses considering involvement with the charity, Caitlin and the team are eager to welcome new ideas. “We would absolutely love to speak to anyone who wants to get involved; we want to work with as many people and organisations as possible who want to help Sheffield Children’s. Everyone who supports us is part of our team, and we will always make it our mission to show them that they’re making a real difference to our hospital and beyond.”
“Supporting The Children’s Hospital Charity is close to my heart, both as a business director and a parent. This remarkable charity has touched my family directly, just as it has to almost every family in the city. As a parent to three children, I’m only too familiar with what a great asset the Children’s Hospital is.
Both the Herd of Sheffield and the Bears of Sheffield sculpture trails captivated my children and showed what a force the team there are, even beyond the walls of the hospital itself. The campaigns were filled with great touches that reached out to the people of Sheffield, involving schools, community groups and letting families be a part of the whole experience. My family loved hunting for the bears, which were brilliantly designed by some of our favourite artists and designers.
As a business, we want to be able to support the causes that are close to our heart and we work with some amazing charities. All their needs are different and there are lots of ways that we can support, but it’s always exciting to be invited to help them create something new or make something a little bit more special. The reach that TCHC have across our region and the enthusiasm of families to be a part of the experiences they create is incredibly important, and they have given us an opportunity to grow as a business too, which means a lot.
I’m very grateful for the effort that the team at TCHC have made to get to know us not just as supporters but as a business. If we can help them save a little bit more or make things a little bit easier, we can make an even greater impact together.”
Marc Larsen – BIDBI Director
