Brighter Futures GWH

11/06/2026

Take your fundraising to new heights and Wingwalk for Brighter Futures! ✈️

This is our most DARING challenge yet. You'll stand on the wing of a classic 1940s biplane as it takes to the skies, reaching speeds of up to 140mph!

Whether you’re celebrating a milestone or taking on a personal challenge, this once-in-a-lifetime experience is your chance to make a real difference.

Sign up now at https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/BrighterFuturesWingwalk2026

11/06/2026

Introducing the Brighter Futures Summer Sunshine Raffle! ☀️

This is your chance to win one of our incredible prizes while also supporting great care at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Prizes included are:

🤩 £500 cash prize
🤩 Golf Experience for 4 (worth £320)
🤩 Swindon Town FC shirt signed by Darren Oldaker
🤩 Afternoon tea for 2
+ many more!

A full list of prizes can be found on the raffle website.

🎟️5 tickets for £10!

Click on the link below to purchase your tickets!

https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/BrighterFuturesSummerSunshineRaffle2026

By taking part, you will be helping to raise money for the Meadows Appeal, which is helping to create a non-clinical, therapeutic space that enhances patient experience, supports wellbeing, and expands our capacity to deliver personalised care and education for patients going through Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment.

10/06/2026

Thank you to the team at Coffee Lush who came in yesterday to donate items to the Children's Ward from the ward's Amazon Wishlist 🤩

A special thank you to the customers of Coffee Lush who made this possible! Coffee Lush have a tip jar and wanted to use the money in the jar to make a difference. They chose Brighter Futures as the charity they wanted to support, and wanted to give back to the Children's Ward at the Great Western Hospital.

Thanks to the generosity of their customers, staff at Coffee Lush were able to purchase every single item on the Children's Ward Amazon Wishlist!! 😮

We were delighted to welcome them into the hospital yesterday to hand over the items to one of our play specialists, Claire.

These donations will make a huge difference to the play sessions available on the Ward in the coming months, helping to make the stay in hospital for some of our youngest patients that little bit better 🩷

09/06/2026

Celebrating 30 years of Charitable Funds at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 🎈🎉

We are enormously grateful to all our supporters for the contributions made to Brighter Futures, the charity of Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Brighter Futures enables the Trust to push boundaries by testing new initiatives and providing extra equipment; allowing us to go that extra mile and support the delivery of outstanding care. It also gives staff recognition and reward for their contribution and efforts.

🩷As part of our 30 years of Charitable Funds series, we are looking back at some past projects & appeals and celebrating their successes. This week, we're looking back at the fundraising for Droplet Hydration Aid Cups.

The droplet cup is an innovative device that makes it easier for patients to stay hydrated, and easier for carers and health care professionals to detect if a patient isn’t drinking regularly. In particular those who need additional support to stay hydrated, such as the elderly or those suffering from Dementia, Alzheimer’s or the effects of a stroke.

The base unit plays a message and flashes to remind users to drink rather than rely on carers or nurses to remind them. Family members or carers can record their own personalised messages. On a ward, the flashing base unit can be seen from a distance, so nursing staff can quickly see who has not been drinking.
Many patients admitted are at risk of poor hydration. This can inhibit their recovery, lengthen their stay in hospital and can even affect their survival. Drinking plenty and keeping hydrated is essential for everyday health and fitness, but it’s even more important when recovering from illness or injury.

For more information on hydration, please visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/water-drinks-nutrition/

07/06/2026

September looks fun! 🤩

We recently opened up registration for two of our main events this year, the Abseil and the Swindon Half Marathon - we would love you to be part of them!

⏬Abseil 2026
Date: Saturday 19th September
Location: Great Western Hospital
Registration fee: £25
Fundraising target: £100
Sign up here: https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/AbseilChallenge20261

👟Swindon Half Marathon 2026
Date: Sunday 27th September
Location: Coate Water
Registration fee: £15
Fundraising target: £200
Sign up here: https://runforcharity.com/charity-registration/brighter-futures/swindon-half-marathon/register

Both events will be raising money for the Meadows Unit at GWH, which delivers Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment to patients diagnosed with cancer.

Challenge yourself this September while helping those going through treatment 🩷

05/06/2026

✨ A special moment at Great Western Hospital ✨

We were delighted to welcome artist Levon Biss to the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, as we celebrated the installation of his striking photography on our first floor by Cardiac Services.

Levon has kindly donated this beautiful collection, following his own experience as a patient at GWH last year. He was treated by Dr Badrinathan Chandrasekaran, Consultant Cardiologist, and this act of generosity is a heartfelt way of giving back to the team who cared for him 💙

During the visit, Levon was joined by Dr Chandrasekaran and Chris Bull, Deputy Chief Nurse, alongside members of the local media, to mark the occasion together.

His work, taken from The Hidden Beauty of Seeds and Fruits, reveals the extraordinary detail of the natural world — reminding us of the powerful connection between nature and medicine.

These artworks are already making a difference — helping to create a more welcoming, uplifting environment for patients, visitors and staff.

A huge thank you to Levon for his generosity and for sharing his incredible work with our hospital community.

04/06/2026

Children receiving care at the Great Western Hospital are set to benefit from a thoughtful and imaginative donation from local charity Dressability, whose volunteers have lovingly created a collection of handmade “Play Packs” to bring comfort, distraction and joy during hospital stays 🩷

Dressability has gifted beautifully crafted packs to the Children’s Ward, each one carefully assembled by volunteers and filled with engaging items designed to support play and wellbeing.

The packs include handmade fabric bags containing simple games such as noughts and crosses, alongside colourful, volunteer-sewn colouring kits complete with pencils and postcards.
In addition, each pack contains a selection of brand-new toys – including fidget spinners, pop-it sensory toys, puzzle blocks, bubble wands and Play-Doh – generously funded by a supporter of Dressability.

The packs showcase the creativity and care of Dressability’s volunteer team, with each element thoughtfully designed and made to create a positive experience for young patients. The vibrant fabrics, interactive games and sensory items aim to provide comfort, reduce anxiety and help pass the time during what can often be a difficult experience for children and their families.

A huge thank you to Dressability & their volunteers for their donation. These packs will make a huge difference to our younger patients.

04/06/2026

Give the gift of time 💙

Contact us today to find out more about volunteering opportunities at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

💚 Voluntary Services GWH

01/06/2026