Huge cash boost secures permanent playroom for new specialist children’s hospital

BIG NUMBERS: The Cheffins’ team announce fundraising total for Cambridge Children’s Hospital

A prominent local firm has more than doubled its initial fundraising goal to support the creation of the East of England’s first specialist children’s hospital.

Cheffins marked its 200th anniversary by handing over a staggering £212,000 to the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust to fund a permanent, purpose-built playroom.

This impressive contribution ensures that the new facility can offer a much larger space for young patients to relax and recover.

Once built, it will be the first specialist children’s hospital for the East of England, the only region in the UK without one.

The donation forms part of a wider bicentenary campaign that saw the company raise more than £270,000 for various local and national causes.

By exceeding their original targets, the team has ensured a lasting legacy that will support families across the region for decades to come.

The new Cambridge Children’s Hospital is designed to revolutionise pediatric care by fully integrating mental and physical health services alongside world-leading research.

This innovative approach recognises that emotional well-being is just as critical as physical recovery during a child’s hospital stay.

Shelly Thake, Chief Executive of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, thanked the firm for a ‘fun and memorable’ year of fundraising.

She noted that the extra funds will allow for a significantly enhanced play environment that will benefit children undergoing treatment for years to come.

In a touching tribute to their history, staff also collected a toybox containing over 200 items for the hospital’s play teams.

This collection will eventually take pride of place within the new Cheffins-funded playroom once construction is finalised.

The fundraising journey involved a massive variety of events, from a charity tractor sale that raised £80,000 to staff taking on the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge.

Other highlights included the Saffron Walden Carnival sponsorship, bake sales, and a dedicated charity cycle ride through the local countryside.

Bill King, Chairman of Cheffins, said: “Celebrating 200 years in business gave us a unique opportunity to reflect upon our heritage and more importantly, to look forward and ask what kind of legacy we want to leave behind.”

He expressed immense pride in the ‘extraordinary energy’ his 180-strong team demonstrated throughout the year.

While the official bicentenary year has concluded, the partnership between the firm and the hospital trust is set to continue.

The company has pledged to maintain its fundraising efforts until the hospital’s scheduled completion in 2030.

This long-term commitment ensures that the momentum gained during the anniversary year will translate into ongoing support for the project.

By focusing on the mental wellbeing of patients, the firm is helping to set a new global standard for how children’s healthcare is delivered.

The remaining funds from the campaign have been distributed to other vital organisations, including Dementia UK and the Cambridge Community Foundation.

This wide-reaching support highlights the firm’s deep roots within the local communities of Cambridge, Ely, and Saffron Walden.