The WISHH National Elf Service Appeal returns!

We are inviting members of our community and local businesses to get involved, to help us spread the festive cheer to patients across Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital. Your support will enable us to buy gifts for children and older patients, as well as providing toys, games and distraction items across hospital wards.

Lisa Whitton, WISHH Charity Manager said, "We love bringing the magic of Christmas to patients cared for across Hull Hospitals. Funds raised from this appeal will enable us to buy gifts for children looked after in the Children's Emergency Department, Eye Hospital, Anlaby Suite, Ward 130 and Paediatric High Dependency Unit, Acorn Ward and other specialist areas across our hospitals.

We would also like to provide gifts for older patients, to include slippers, toiletries, arts and crafts, reminiscence gifts for dementia patients and other items. We feel this is incredibly important to do, as its the little things that make such a difference to their hospital stay. Some older patients may not receive gifts or have visitors if family live far away, and we'd like them to have something to open on Christmas day.

By supporting the National Elf Service appeal, the WISHH team will become elves and take the strain out of buying and delivering gifts for you, as we work alongside play specialists and nursing staff across wards to select ideal gifts for patients in their care. Its a great opportunity for local clubs, businesses and other members of the community to get involved and help us make a difference this Christmas. We will take photos of the special elf deliveries on the wards to highlight your support!

To help us make this Christmas special and to get involved, drop Lisa Whitton and Abby Wardill of the WISHH team an email at hyp-tr.hellowishh@nhs.net or call us on 01482 622299, and we will send you a fundraising pack full of festive fun ideas to get involved in.

If you would like to get involved but support specific areas of the hospital, please feel free to get in touch with us and we can make a plan!

We even have our special Christmas WISHHes you can get involved in to support the appeal in lieu of writing Christmas cards; donate £5 and have your own Christmas star displayed on a tree at either Hull Royal Infirmary or Castle Hill Hospital.

Now's the time 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.

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

Cheques made payable to "WISHH Charity" can be posted to WISHH National Elf Service Appeal, WISHH Charity, First Floor Admin Block, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Hull, HU16 5JQ. Bacs payments are also welcomed, call us for details.