Young patients at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals are benefiting from a brighter, more welcoming environment thanks to the success of the Trust’s Brighten a Bay charity appeal.
What began as a simple idea to make the bays on the Children’s Ward feel more child-friendly has grown into a project that has transformed the look and feel of the ward.
The initiative was developed by the children’s ward team, who wanted to create a more welcoming environment for children and their families during their hospital stay.
The Trust charity took on the project, arranging seven sponsors for bays, with their donation covering paint, new Under the Sea wall decals and blinds, and in return, sponsors get their logo on the bay window.
Brinscall St John’s CE/Methodist Primary School sponsored Orange Bay with the proceeds of a fundraising bake sale, and were invited in on Tuesday 30 June – the Association of British Paediatric Nurses’ first National Children’s Nurses Day – to officially open their bay. The children also handed out thank you cards and sweets to nurses.
Other sponsors so far include T. Georgson (Red Bay), Chaii Stop (Blue Bay), Croston Heating and Plumbing (Purple Bay), Gilling Dod (Yellow Bay), 360 Ambulance (Pink Bay) and James Hall Spar (Green Bay).
Matron Angela Mason explained: “The bays were really plain and quite boring – not child-focused at all – and when children are in hospital, we wanted to make the environment as nice and welcoming as possible.
“We discussed different ideas as a team and came up with the idea of sponsoring a bay. We asked local businesses, organisations and individuals if they would consider donating £300 to sponsor a bay.
“At first, we thought we’d simply repaint the bays, add some colourful wall stickers and make them feel a bit brighter. But thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the project has grown into much more than that.”
On top of the sponsorship funding, the team have also installed new decorative blinds featuring colourful designs, replacing the previous plain window coverings, creating a much more engaging space for children.
Decorative window graphics have also been added, providing privacy for patients while adding vibrant artwork throughout the ward.
The improvements extend beyond the individual bays. The ward’s entrance has also been transformed with matching window graphics that create a welcoming first impression while incorporating important information for families, including visiting guidance.
The new displays have also helped reduce the number of posters around the entrance, creating a cleaner, less cluttered environment.
The team are delighted with the finished result and grateful to everyone who has supported the appeal.
Angela added: “We’re absolutely thrilled with how it’s turned out. The whole ward looks much brighter and more welcoming, and we hope it helps make what can be a difficult time a little easier for the children and families in our care.”
Lucy Clark, Community and Events Fundraiser, added: “The response to the Brighten a Bay appeal has been fantastic, and we’re incredibly grateful to all who have chosen to support it. Their generosity has helped create a brighter, more welcoming environment for children and families at what can often be a challenging time. It’s wonderful to see the difference these improvements have made, and we’re proud to have worked alongside the ward team to bring their vision to life.”
The other sponsors will be visiting Ward 8 in the coming weeks to see the transformation of their bays, and thanks go to all for their generosity.