The Oaks Day Nursery: fundraising success

At the University of Birmingham’s day nurseries, we know we’re part of a community.

It’s important to us to give back to that community. All three nurseries choose a charity each year that has a special meaning to the staff and children.

Because so many families at The Oaks use their services every year, Birmingham Children’s Hospital was a natural choice for 2017’s nominated charity. The hospital was also raising money to improve their outdoor space. As a setting that truly understands the value of the outdoors to children’s wellbeing and learning, of course we wanted to pitch in!

Charity events ran throughout the year, from dressing up as favourite characters for World Book Day in March and a Teddy Bears’ Picnic in August, to Christmas Jumper Day in December. In total, the families and staff at The Oaks raised a remarkable £1657.98 for the hospital’s outdoor space.

We don’t always have the chance to see the impact of all our fundraising – but happily, that’s not the case here. Nursery Manager Rebecca Slater and Deputy Manager Emily Grainger were lucky enough to visit BCH earlier this month, to see the results.

It’s a lively, welcoming and colourful space that can be used on all weathers, by children in hospital for a huge range of reasons.

We’re thrilled to see some natural materials being used, and such a creative, transformative use of artwork.

Over the years, the nursery has raised an amazing total of £2551.41 for BCH.

More good news: The Oaks Day Nursery will be supporting the Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity in 2020, raising money for their Woodland House Appeal. The hospital is hoping to build a new purpose-built centre, away from the noise and bustle of the hospital, to give parents who have lost a child a safe, serene place to begin to come to terms with their loss.

This is another choice close to all our hearts. Many of our families have been touched by the work they’re doing, and as it’s so local to us, we know many more of our families will access maternity facilities in the future.

Thank you to all the staff, children and parents who joined in our fundraising efforts in the past – and we hope you’ll keep supporting us.