New playground at Whiston Hospital officially opens

In April, this year Whiston and St Helens Hospitals’ Charity launched their Playground SOS appeal to raise £20,000 to transform an unused courtyard into a purpose built, safe, play area for their youngest patients.

And, thanks to an amazing response from the local community and staff, the charity smashed its target in just 20 weeks.

The space before (Image: The space before)

The success of the fundraising appeal means the courtyard has now been transformed into a vibrant, interactive safe space for younger patients of all abilities to enjoy while taking a break from treatment or visiting for hospital appointments.

The new playground was officially opened by celebrity Craig Philips with the help of young former patients Harry, Joel, Bella, Luca and Isla who starred in a wonderful, heart-warming Playground SOS launch video that gave a child’s overview of the campaign.

Onlookers included staff from Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, campaign supporters and their families, and a very special guest in Father Christmas.

The playground has been completed (Image: Whiston and St Helens Hospitals Charity)

Speaking at the official opening the Trust’s Chief Executive, Ann Marr OBE, said: “The changes that have been made to this area are amazing.

“The playground is a wonderful addition to the Trust, and it gives me so much pleasure to see our young patients making the most of it.

“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to everyone who got behind this campaign from day one. The support we had all the way through to reach our target so quickly was amazing.

“We couldn’t have done this without you.’’

Chief Executive of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Ann Marr OBE, with Craig Phillips and some of the youngsters who appeared in the SOS Playground Appeal launch video. (Image: Whiston Hospital)The hospital’s Charity Fundraiser, Dee Littler, said: “It has been such an incredible experience from seeing the draft plans on paper for the first time, to the fundraising taking place and now to seeing it all finished and the smiles on the faces of the youngsters using it.

“I can’t thank all our supporters enough for their help and it was a pleasure to show them the finished playground.

“Their feedback has been fantastic, everyone loves it.”

Fundraising events included a fitness weekend, a charity football match, a golf day and a sponsored climb of Mount Snowdon by eight-year-old Joel.

Drone shot of the playground (Image: Drone shot of the playground)

Donations were kindly provided by a number of community groups, some of which were: Gym owner Gary Crickson held a fitness weekend and raffle and raised £2,346, Hospital partners Vinci raised £3,270 from staff charity football match, eight-year-old Joel climbed Mount Snowdon and raised £1,050, Hospital Gardener Rob raised £888 by kayaking from Stockport to Liverpool, Tower College school pupils raised £600 and Frank, a Whiston hospital car park attendant, raised £520 via a golf day.

Further donations came from the community as well as the following charities: Cardiac Children Team 1C donated £1,000, Stu Wright and family donated £1,000, WI Rainhill gave £100, Whiston Town Council gave £500 and Rainhill Rotary gave £500.