• Thousands of pounds worth of gifts donated to Our Bolton NHS Charity ahead of Christmas
• Presents will be shared with patients at Royal Bolton Hospital to spread festive cheer
• Go North West and Bolton Wanderers Football Club among generous donors

Thousands of pounds worth of gifts have been generously donated to Our Bolton NHS Charity to help spread festive cheer to people who are staying in hospital over Christmas.

Hundreds of presents, ranging from children’s toys to pamper products for some of the hospital’s older patients, have been dropped off at Royal Bolton Hospital throughout December.

For the past few weeks businesses, communities and individuals have supported Santa and his elves by raising money and collecting gifts to lift the spirits of those unable to spend Christmas at home.

Go North West donated presents for some of the hospital’s adult patients on the Complex Care wards, and also sponsored seven Christmas trees that have been installed across the hospital site.

Stevie Collins, Social Value Manager at Go North West, said:

As a Bolton-based company, we feel it’s important to give back to the local community and a cause that our colleagues will all relate to. Having been in hospital over Christmas, I know how strange and lonely a time it can be, so we were delighted to light up the hospital site by sponsoring a number of Christmas trees, and donating craft materials and toiletries for adult patients with complex needs.

“It was lovely to be part of the light switch-on that took place on 2 December and – just this week – meet members of the Enhanced Care team to hear how donations like ours are used to make patients feel more at home and comfortable during their hospital stay.

Players, management and Lofty the Lion from Bolton Wanderers Football Club and Bolton Wanderers in the Community also visited the hospital, dropping off gifts across the wards, including the children’s ward, the children’s Emergency Department and the neonatal unit.

The club’s manager, Ian Evatt, said:

It’s something we are delighted to do every year and we can see what it means to people.

“It’s a pleasure to hand over some presents and give a little something back to the community and to some of our supporters at this special time.

“It is also a humbling experience for all of us and provides a bit of perspective to what we are trying to achieve and will continue to strive to do so this Christmas and beyond to give those we have seen this week and the whole town a lift.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust would also like to say a huge thank you to:

• Olive School
• Communia FM Ltd
• Apogee Corp
• Ladybridge High School
• Compassion in Action
• Leverhulme Academy Trust
• St Peter and St Pauls Primary School
• Dan Gregory
• IC Insurance
• Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple Bolton
• Katie Birtwistle
• Jaguar Land Rover Bolton
• Transformation Life Church
• Fairy Bricks

Our Bolton NHS Charity has funded presents for all patients who are in hospital and intermediate care over Christmas.

Sarah Skinner, Charity Manager at Our Bolton NHS Charity, said:

Being in hospital and away from loved ones over Christmas can be a daunting and lonely experience so we’re delighted to be working in partnership with the local community to ensure our patients know we are thinking of them.

“Our heartfelt thanks go to the individuals, schools, businesses and faith groups for their generosity and kindness and to our donors and fundraisers for their support throughout the year. Without this collective generosity, this wave of kindness simply would not be possible.

More information about the support Our Bolton NHS Charity offers can be found on our website.