Filton Aerospace Staff Bring Festive Joy to Sick Kids 

This Christmas, the staff at GKN Aerospace’s Filton site generously gave up their own festive treat to support Bristol Children’s Hospital. But the miracles didn’t end there… 

Every December, our supporters fund a programme of festive fun at Bristol Children’s Hospital. From calming carols to presents for patients, these activities make sure that families spending the holidays in hospital don’t miss out on Christmas cheer. 

In 2025, a Christmas miracle came our way to make sure those celebrations could be bigger and better than ever before. Every staff member at GKN Aerospace’s Filton site chose to give up their company-funded Christmas dinner. 

The money that would’ve been spent on Christmas dinners was gifted to The Grand Appeal. With over 1,000 staff on board, they donated a whopping £20,000! 

This incredible donation funded a jam-packed schedule of workshops and entertainment, plus presents for patients from tiny newborns to teenagers.  

GKN’s generosity will continue to make a difference well into 2026, with plenty more treats for patients and their families to come. 

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Everything GKN  supported  this Christmas

The Bristol Children’s Hospital Christmas party

Party Peeps brought a sleigh-full of festive fun to the Activities Centre in December. Patients, parents and the Play Team were treated to an epic afternoon of party games, music and more.  

Special occasions like this ensure that Christmas still feels like the most wonderful time of the year in the hospital. 

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Books and cuddly toys for NICU 

Babies might not remember their first Christmas, but it’s a special occasion that their parents will treasure forever. 

In 2025, each critically ill baby staying on St Michael’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was gifted a festive stocking, which included a book and a cuddly toy. 

These gifts are safe for sick babies, promote bonding with parents, and help NICU families create happy memories during an uncertain time. 

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FIMO and pottery workshops 

Small moments can mean everything. Patients of all ages were able to enjoy Christmas craft workshops as part of our arts programme, Arts Unleashed. 

Creative sessions like FIMO modelling clay and pottery workshops offer a welcome distraction, a chance for patients to express themselves and a bit of festive fun during a challenging time. 

Best of all, the chance to get crafty isn’t restricted to Christmas! The generous donation from GKN has enabled us to continue the pottery workshops into 2026, ensuring that many more children will benefit from them. 

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Nintendo Switches and games

Gaming is a cracking source of escape and distraction for patients – especially for teenagers who may be too old for some of the other toys and activities available on the wards. 

This Christmas, brand-new Nintendo Switches and games were delivered to wards across Bristol Children’s Hospital. Their portability and the wide variety of games available make the Switches perfectly suited to patients who are confined to their hospital beds. 

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Harp and flute performance 

 Our harpist, Julia, and flautist, Michelle, can usually be found playing soothing symphonies on the wards, helping to make the hospital feel as calm and restful as possible.  
 
As a touch of festive fun, they treated patients and staff to a Christmas concert in the hospital. 

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Visitor attraction passes 

If one of your children is in the hospital, it can be so difficult to balance their needs with looking after their siblings. 

That’s why our supporters fund tickets to local activities and attractions for the whole family, like Bristol Zoo Project, Bristol Aquarium and Brunel’s SS Great Britain. These trips give families some much-needed quality time together away from the hospital environment. 

Not only did GKN fund these family days out over the Christmas holidays, but they’re also supporting our visitor attraction passes for the whole of 2026. 

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Treasure chests 

With so many presents and activities on offer, there’s a lot to make sick kids feel special at Christmas time.  

But we’d never want to get too swept up in the holiday magic and forget that patients at Bristol Children’s Hospital need our support 365 days a year. 

Patients will be able to benefit from GKN’s kind donation all year long thanks to the terrific treasure chests they’ve funded for thirteen wards.  These treasure chests are filled with small gifts, which the staff give to children as rewards for enduring procedures, taking meds and meeting treatment milestones. 

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Thank you to the staff at GKN Aerospace for brightening up Bristol Children’s Hospital in December and beyond!