Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the WISHH Charity which supports Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital have to look at Christmas a little differently this year. Traditionally, generous members of our community, businesses and sporting teams deliver an astonishing amount of Christmas gifts for the areas sickest children the hospitals care for. To keep patients safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, the highest infection control procedures and restrictions on visiting loved ones are in place across the hospitals to prevent the spread of the virus. Hull Hospitals in association with WISHH Charity are enabling our community to still help make a difference across our hospitals in a safe way by supporting our Christmas appeal.

Members of our communities who would like to help spread the festive cheer to patients Hull Hospitals care for over the festive period and beyond, are being encouraged this Christmas to Help the NHS with the WISHH National Elf Service! appeal.

The WISHH Charity, has created a festive fundraising pack, bursting with creative ideas to get our community involved in, but at the same time observing Covid guidance, by taking part in socially distanced fundraising and at home fundraising ideas from sewing to baking, donning festive attire, to adopting one of our Christmas WISHHes, to spread the festive spirit safely in work places and schools by supporting the appeal.

Funds raised from the appeal will enable the hospitals to purchase Covid safe gifts for children of all ages from babies, toddlers, primary and secondary aged young people who will be staying on our wards over the Christmas period. Such support will also make a difference to patients being looked after in Childrens Emergency Department, Eye Hospital, Anlaby Suite and other specialist areas. Any additional funds will be used to support patients across our hospitals throughout the year.

We will also be supporting our medical elderly patients, providing patients with reminiscence items for dementia patients and other items to make their stay in hospital more comfortable.

This is how your donations could help make a difference:

* £10 will provide a patient with a toy or reminiscence gift

* £15 will provide a patient with a mindfulness colouring book and pencil crayons

* £20 will fund an Art/Crafts Bag A take-home gift to encourage activities post discharge

* £25 will provide a teddy bear for a vulnerable child who undergoes medical examination within the hospital

* £100 - £500 will provide sensory items for our Eye Hospital for example bubble tubes and sensory boards

* £250+ will provide a Santa sack of games and gifts for children on wards and for those patients with dementia

* £1,000+ will enhance playroom learning toys and reminiscence areas on our wards for patients now and in future years.

Businesses which would like to support this appeal, please get in touch with Lisa Whitton on 01482 622299 or email HelloWISHH@hey.nhs.uk

Now's the time to to start your ultimate festive fundraiser, arts and crafts, baking sweet treats, running like Rudolph a Christmas Carol-athon or something completely different, we want you to join our team of elves this Christmas!

Don your finest festive apparel and let's do something wonderful to support our hospitals.

Click here for your fundraising pack or alternative email us at HelloWISHH@hey.nhs.uk and we can send you one. The pack includes some fantastic ideas, tips for fundraising and a brilliant poster for you to print and track you progress!

Keep up to date with the National Elf Service and everything else WISHH related by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.