Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust’s charity, Better Lives, are spreading festive cheer across wards in mental health facilities this month by supplying over 200 gifts to patients not well enough to be home.

Being in hospital at any time of the year can be difficult, but particularly over the festive season. Helping to get everyone into the Christmas spirit, the gifts, wrapped and delivered with the support of generous volunteers, will provide a real boost for patients.

One volunteer said: “It always nice to have something to open on Christmas morning, unfortunately some people don’t have the privilege to be with their family or loved ones over this festive period. It means a lot to be able to spread some festive cheer and put smiles on faces for those patients who will be spending this period in our Trust’s care.”

Although the Trust’s NHS staff will be working tirelessly to support patients to create a sense of Christmas cheer by engaging patients in related activities, dedicated staff want to go one step further to ensure that all patients staying on mental health wards over Christmas have a gift to open.

Catherine Jowitt, Head of Charity and Volunteering said: “We are so happy to be able to provide patients in our services with some festive cheer. It is a very emotional time of year, especially when loved ones can’t be at home during the festive period, so it means so much to us to bring smiles to faces. We would like to thank everyone who donated and supported making this possible.”

The charity raises funds to enhance patient care and go over and above the core services offered. Find out more about the charity: www.bdct.nhs.uk/better-lives-charity/.