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A leading hospital charity has marked the end of another year of extraordinary giving by bringing in more festive spirit than ever before. 

Every year, supporters of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) donate millions of pounds to help make Addenbrooke’s even better, with Christmas the chance to shine a light for patients and staff during what can be a very difficult time of year for many. 

With another special event being added to the charity’s annual festive activities, the charity has thanked its supporters for ‘remembering there are people in hospital who need a little love.” 

Each year, ACT supporters help fund Christmas events and activities designed to bring a smile to both patients and staff, with the charity funding a Christmas hamper for staff on the wards at Christmas.  

The hospital charity also funds the staff Winter Festival through its Stronger Together grant as a way of thanking hardworking staff who give so much to patients throughout the year. 

In addition to this, ACT works closely with its corporate partners throughout the year looking at ways in which they can give back to both Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, including Christmas time. 

Cambridge Commodities, based in Ely, is one of those – and each year, staff at the firm hold an annual ball to fundraise to buy every patient in hospital on Christmas Day a present, as well as chocolates for staff working over the Christmas holidays. Staff from the firm also volunteer their time to sit down and personally handwrite a card to go with every present. (Pictured below are Chris Dakin and his son Matt, from Cambridge Commodities)

This year sees another special Christmas activity added to the charity’s growing list of festive treats with presents for the children’s wards, allowing young patients the chance to choose, and wrap, a present for their parent or carer. Presents were bought using a donation from Marsh Industries’ Sooey Campaign, the company’s fundraising initiative for children’s hospitals across the UK.  

Cheffins – who this year partnered with ACT during its 200-year anniversary and pledged to raise funds to help build a playroom at the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital – have also donated 200 comforters to babies receiving care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Addenbrooke’s this Christmas.  

Reflecting on all the Christmas spirit the charity has been able to provide for patients and staff, with the help of its supporters, Paul White, Director of Communications and Impact at ACT, said: “Whether you are a patient that wants to be home with their loved ones, or a member of staff caring for people who you know should be with their families, this time of year can be especially challenging to be in hospital. However, never is there a better example of the unwavering kindness and support of the local community than at Christmas.” 

“This year our supporters have donated both money and time, meaning ACT has been able to do even more for patients and staff at Addenbrooke’s than ever before. From the unstoppable Cambridge Commodities who are wrapping thousands of presents so that every patient in hospital on Christmas Day gets a special gift, to the hampers for staff bought using kind donations from the public to remind them how grateful we all are, countless people are stepping up, remembering there are people in hospital who need a little love, and doing their bit to make Addenbrooke’s even better.” 

“Every act of kindness makes a difference, and we couldn’t do any of what we do to change and save lives without the public’s wonderful donations.” 

James Stevens, CEO of Cambridge Commodities, said it was his company’s 7^th year of partnership with ACT, but their 6^th year of buying Christmas presents for every patient in hospital on Christmas Day. 

He said memories from the past six years were ‘indescribable” and added: “We raise the money at our annual charity ball, we wrap the presents in our office, where our incredible staff stay late for a couple of evenings in December and wrap thousands of gifts and hand write every single card. We are then given the amazing opportunity of taking the gifts to the hospital which is pretty special and something you never forget. This year we have been given an even greater opportunity where we will hand deliver the presents directly to the wards, which we are all excited about.” 

“The memories that this brings to the team are indescribable and we have had some magical moments where people we have known have woken up on Christmas day in the hospital and received a gift from Cambridge Commodities. Something that can bring a smile in a moment when life might be quite hard. Closer to home, one of our wrapping staff ended up giving birth over the festive period and was given a gift and card that she might have wrapped herself.” 

Natasha Robertson (left), Corporate Partnerships Manager at ACT, described the event as “one of the most special moments in our annual calendar.” 

“Knowing that every patient waking up in hospital on Christmas Day will have a gift to open is incredibly moving, and it reflects the true spirit of thinking of others at this time of year. We’re immensely grateful to Cambridge Commodities, whose long-standing support makes this possible. They don’t just fund the presents – they wrap them and personally deliver them to the wards, always adding those extra thoughtful touches that mean so much to our patients and staff. Their generosity helps bring a sense of warmth and celebration into the hospital when it’s needed most.” 

Molly Youngs (below), ACT’s Corporate Partnerships Executive, said she was really excited to see the latest activity added to the charity’s list of festive events – with children in hospital able to choose a special present for their parent or carer at Christmas – after inspiration from her children’s school. 

“The idea first came to me when I was part of my boys’ school PTA. We had an Elf Shop where parents donated gifts, and the children got to enjoy their own little shopping experience—choosing something special for their loved ones in secret. My two boys absolutely loved it, and the joy on their faces when they handed us their chosen presents on Christmas morning was magical. That memory is what inspired me to bring the same experience into the hospital.” 

“With the amazing help of Ann from the Play Team, we’ve been able to make it happen. Now, children who can’t leave the hospital over Christmas can still pick out a present, wrap it up, and surprise their family on Christmas morning.” 

“It means a lot to us to think about every family’s circumstances—some parents may not otherwise receive a gift—and this gives children the chance to give something back, no matter what.” 

“Seeing this introduced for the very first time is incredibly exciting, and I truly hope we can continue it next year. For children who may be quite unwell, I hope this little moment of joy brings comfort at a time when being in hospital can feel especially hard. Christmas is about love and togetherness, and this is one way of bringing that spirit to the wards.” 

R G Carter Construction in Cambridge also donated 50 presents for patients on the elderly ward at Addenbrooke’s this Christmas. 

Delivering a tinsel-wrapped trolley full of presents for children on the wards to choose and wrap for their mums, dads, and carers on Christmas day brought a lot of happiness to the ACT team, and all the members of the hospital’s play team. 

Ann, the Play Team manager from Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, thanked ACT for making this special event possible, saying: “I think this is a wonderful way of making sure all the parents are thought about this Christmas even if the children remain in hospital over the Christmas period.” 

Patients included five-year-old Harry, from St Neot’s, who underwent a liver and bowel transplant using 1.2 metres of bowel and a third of his dad’s liver in an operation in January. Harry helped pick a special present for his mum and dad, Annie and Gary, with mum Annie saying: “He’s doing good but there’s been a lot of bumps.” 

Baby Teddy was asleep in bed when ACT helped deliver a present for his mum Claire, who has four boys including Teddy. Claire said: “It’s a wonderful idea, so kind. It’s a little pick me up. It means a lot for someone to be thinking of the parents when you are going through this.” 

As the official hospital charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), which is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year, funds cutting-edge equipment, specialist staff, extra comforts and vital research to fund potential cures and help save lives, above and beyond what the NHS can provide. 

ACT is also fundraising to help build two new pioneering hospitals on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus which will benefit patients not just in the East of England, but nationally and globally too – the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital and the Cambridge Children’s Hospital. 

Each year, the charity donates millions to Addenbrooke’s to help make it even better – and in the past 30 years alone, has invested more than £150 million in the hospitals. 

To find out more about what ACT does and how you can help make Addenbrooke’s even better, please donate here.

To find out about volunteer opportunities at ACT, click here.

Corporates who would like to support ACT as Charity of the Year can also get in touch by emailing: corporatepartnerships@act4addenbrookes.org.uk.