South West Children's Research Appeal

Aim: Help us build a ground-breaking research facility in the heart of Bristol Children's Hospital to find cures and change lives for the future.

Children in Bristol and the South West are missing out on ground-breaking research treatments that could change their lives.

That's because Bristol Royal Hospital for Children is the only big children's hospital in the UK without a dedicated research facility.

Across the South West, the opportunity for poorly children to take part in life-changing research trials is restricted due to a lack of clinical space, lack of beds, and limited facilities.

This restricts patients and families from trying the latest treatments or forces them to travel far from home to hospitals in London, Liverpool or Birmingham. And to do that, a parent or carer would probably have to leave their job to have the time to stay with their child.

For some families this isn’t an option. A research facility in Bristol is their only hope. Their chance for a better future.

We're changing that. We're building a research facility. The Coral Reef ward, right at the heart of Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

The new research facility will be life changing. In the first year alone, more than 1,200 children could receive potentially transformative treatment.

It will enable the dedicated research team to deliver 30% more trials and studies. This could unlock potentially curative treatments that are not currently available in Bristol and the South West.

It will improve the quality of life for those with life-limiting conditions including childhood cancers, heart, muscular, neurological, respiratory and renal conditions, as well as rare diseases. 

This facility will put research at the heart of the South West’s leading specialist children’s hospital, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Why we're crowdfunding

We’ve raised the money to build it. We have the money to provide the basic equipment and fixtures required. And the staff are raring to go.

But our dreams are bigger. We want to go above and beyond and transform the space into a beautiful home away from home for patients and their families who will be returning month after month.

With your help, we want to raise a final £10,000 to create a truly unique and welcoming environment that will have patients excited to return, and celebrate just how incredible the team working there are.

From the little things, like coral reef artwork and decoration to create a calming and soothing environment. To the big things, like extraordinary technology to keep them entertained and ease anxieties.

Your support and donation will make these dreams a reality.

Thank you so much for your support. Not just from all of us at Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, but all the staff at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, and every single child and family that will have their life changed for the better by this incredible research facility.

Who we are

Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity (BWHC) is doing great things to improve the health and happiness of every patient in all 10 of our NHS hospitals in Bristol city centre, South Bristol and Weston-super-Mare.

Together with our local NHS, we push the limits of what’s possible. We go above and beyond to transform the experiences patients have in our hospitals, wherever the need is greatest. We bring moments of joy, comfort and hope to those who need it most. And we are committed to helping our hospitals go that extra mile for you and everyone who means the world to you.

Together we can do great things.

Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity is the working name for University Hospitals Bristol & Weston Charity, which is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales with number 1170973. It is a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales with company number 10394287.

Registered office: Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NT | Tel: 0117 927 7120

This project successfully funded on 18th October 2023