Auroch Digital is a patron of Bristol Royal Hospital for Children Sunflower Ward 🌻
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In Bristol’s Royal Hospital for Children, there is an amazing ward full of happiness and hope where it is needed most. The Sunflower ward is the neurological rehabilitation ward for children and Auroch Digital has signed up to be a patron of the ward.
Who does the ward help? 🩺
Admissions come from near and far, short term and long term. They can be planned admissions and referrals from across the Southwest region but, due to the nature of the specialists on this ward, they also get young people from all over the world.
Here is a clip of a recent Sunflower Ward Patient Jayden being discharged after a year of treatment. Isaac, Health Play Assistant for Sunflower Ward, said: “Jayden really worked hard and love to make jokes while on the ward. He is an avid gamer and greatly made use of the VR headset The Grand Appeal donated to the ward!”
Why are we patrons to The Sunflower Ward? 🌻
This ward does such important work that we wanted to support them through donations and raising awareness. The sunflower ward has health play assistants, like Isaac. The play team members are qualified childcare practitioners whose job is to ensure the patients can experience play and a sense of normality, while also assisting with medical procedures.
Sunflower Ward 🌻
You know how we all like to come home and play a few games? These kids are exactly the same. After they have had procedures done, being able to socialise with other young people brings them joy in such a difficult time and helps with recovery.
Why is play so important? 🎮
Play is more important than we realise. The interaction with others and need to have fun is inside all of us and since these children are already undergoing such a stressful time, they need that normality even more. Playing games in a team, laughing with friends, and being creative are all things the Sunflower ward helps these kids to do.
Everyone loves a movie night, watching anime with friends and laughing at the silliness that happens. Recently, Sunflower Ward got an Xbox one so that the teenagers can do exactly that. Depending on the demands of the ward there can sometimes be a teenager on a bay with three toddlers so having the space and facilities for them to do something more grown up and just for them is really key, and well needed!
We recently donated a load of items to the ward from their Amazon Wishlist and Isaac was kind enough to let us know how some of these have helped.
We gifted the ward some fairy lights and a teenager currently staying in the ward with sensory sensitivity issues has been using these. She can control the brightness and colour which she is really enjoying.
We also donated a load of Lego from the Amazon wishlist which has been a big hit, especially with Lucas. He sent us a really lovely hand made card saying how much he liked them. Thank you so much Lucas, we love your drawings! 😁
Some of the games and toys in the ward
How can you help? 🏥
If you’d like to support the Sunflower Ward as well there are loads of things you can do:
🎁 Choose some items to donate from their Amazon wishlist - The Sunflower Ward has a wishlist of items you can choose to donate from. The kids have helped select these items and donating any of these will make a child’s day.
🍰 Raise money for donations - Take part in a fundraising event, or organise your own! These can be bake-offs, marathons, or other sponsored activities. The money you raise can go on donations for the ward. For ideas and events you can join check out the official charity for Bristol Children’s Hospital - The Grand Appeal.
🔊 Raise Awareness - Share their Amazon wishlist link, or any posts you see about the ward, including ours! Raising awareness of the important work they do and how people can help makes a big difference.
🐦 Follow them on socials to stay up to date - Follow Isaac (Twitter and Instagram) and The Grand Appeal (Twitter and Facebook) on socials so you can stay up to date with their work, help raise awareness, and get involved with events as they come up.