Switching on the festive season at BWC
It’s fair to say 2020 has been different but one thing is for sure… Christmas isn’t cancelled at our Trust. Usually around the beginning of December we gather outside and press the button to make our Christmas tree lights sparkle. This year, we’re more determined than ever to bring the spirit of the season into our wards and departments. For the first time ever, we’ve flicked the switch to officially kick off Christmas virtually, so watch our special switch-on event.
Christmas with our charities
Christmas Concert
It’s all about Christmas in our Fundraising team at the moment, and there are plenty of ways to get involved to support our charities. The Virtual Christmas Concert is taking place on Thursday 10 December at 7pm. Tickets are priced at £10 and feature performances from concert regulars at The School of Theatre Excellence as well as a few special guests.
Jolly Jumper Day
Our annual Jolly Jumper Day is scheduled to take place on Friday 11 December. We’re all doing things differently at the moment so if you’re working remotely, why not use Jolly Jumper Day as a way of bringing the team at your workplace together and supporting each other in these challenging times?
Christmas Crackers
We have been working hard in Santa’s workshop this year and are excited to bring to you ‘Christmas Crackers’.
This is a new and exciting fundraiser and we're asking for your help spreading some festive cheer. We'd love you to film yourself, children, work colleagues, friends or family telling their favourite Christmas cracker jokes to share with our patients, families and staff at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals.
Magical Messages
And finally, we have launched Magical Messages again this year. Why not spread some festive cheer by writing a message of magic to your family, friends or colleagues and donate the money you would have spent on a pack of cards?
All details about these and much more from the Fundraising team are available on the websites: bch.org.uk/Christmas or bwh.org.uk/Christmas.
Christmas around the Trust
Ward decorations
As usual, ward decorations will be taking place this year, though due to COVID-19 restrictions, they'll be going up a bit later than usual and only staying up for a limited time. Speak to your nursing team if you would like to find out more about this year's decorations.
Virtual Pantomimes and plays
We're excited to announce that a special virtual pantomime, The National Elf Service, that children and young people will be able to download will be available this year.
There will also be a free screening of the Globe’s Theatre’s family Christmas show, Christmas at the (Snow) Globe, written by and starring Sandi Toksvig for young patients and their families who are staying in hospital over the festive period.
If you or your family member is on one of our wards over Christmas and you'd like to watch the plays speak to your nurse to find out more.
Christmas songs
Singing Medicine will be creating a Christmas song as a virtual postcard that will be shared with patients and families, more information on this will be shared in our Update BWC newsletter over the coming weeks.
We'll also have a special song performed in Makaton by our Play Department that we'll be sharing on social media.
Giggle Doctors
Children's Hospital favourites the Giggle Doctors will perform virtual visits and giggle-a-grams on Tuesdays to Fridays until 23 Dec. Parents can refer their children for a virtual visit by asking their nurse or member of the Play team.
Chaplaincy
Our Chaplaincy team have been hard at work producing a special Christmas film ‘Grumpy Shepherds’ as well as recording a nativity and carol service that we will be sharing over the next few weeks. You'll also be able to watch the service by dropping into our Children's Hospital Lecture Theatre on Monday 14 December or the Chapel from 12-5pm for the two weeks after that. We'll also be sharing their special videos on a dedicated web page where they'll all be uploaded as they become available.
Christmas activities
As always there will also be a whole host of other activities. Radio Lollipop is creating activity packs for children on wards and there will be a competition over the Christmas break asking children to design a thank you card for our volunteers.
Letters to Santa
Last but not least, the Royal Mail is still running its 'Letter to Santa' service. Letters will need to be posted by Friday 11 December for Children to get a reply from Santa so don't delay in speaking to your nursing team.