A year of bake sales and sports challenges ends with £71k raised—and a Wallace & Gromit trail is just getting started
Wallace and Gromit return to the streets of Bristol as part of this summer’s Gromit Unleashed trail, supporting Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Barratt David Wilson Homes South West has raised £71,000 for The Grand Appeal, the official charity of Bristol Children’s Hospital—its highest-ever total for a single charity partner.
The impressive amount was accumulated across a year of fundraising after the housebuilder chose the organisation as its 2024/25 charity of the year. A series of community-driven activities, from bake sales and raffles to sporting challenges and auctions, contributed to the total. The partnership ended with a Gala event at Ashton Gate, which alone raised £50,334.
The overall sum includes £12,000 in match funding from parent company Barratt Redrow Developments, reflecting a strong commitment from both employees and the wider network of contractors, suppliers and supporters.
The Grand Appeal plays a vital role in supporting young patients and their families. As the dedicated charity for Bristol Children’s Hospital, it funds accommodation for families, state-of-the-art medical equipment, therapy programmes, and pioneering research. It also supports the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital.
Helen Haskell, head of corporate fundraising at The Grand Appeal, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Barratt David Wilson Homes South West for their generous support over the past year, raising an astonishing £71,000. Thanks to their dedication, this incredible amount will make a lasting difference to young patients and their families at Bristol Children’s Hospital, ensuring they receive the very best care and support during the most challenging times. On behalf of everyone at The Grand Appeal, thank you.”
Louise Ware, sales director for Barratt David Wilson Homes South West, added: “The Grand Appeal does extraordinary work for our communities and we’re so proud to have supported them over the past 12 months. To have raised our highest ever charity total is a real achievement and a credit to everyone involved. We hope this donation has a lasting impact on the families who rely on this essential service.”
Barratt David Wilson Homes South West is currently developing Ladden Garden Village in Yate, which falls within the Bristol Children’s Hospital catchment area. The new community features a mix of homes across 32 acres of green space, including play areas, allotments, sports pitches, and footpaths. It already includes a Sainsbury’s Local and on-site nursery, with plans for a new primary school.
The housebuilder is set to announce its next charity partner for 2025/26 in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, The Grand Appeal will soon launch its next major fundraiser— Gromit Unleashed —a sculpture trail inspired by Aardman’s beloved characters Wallace, Gromit, Feathers McGraw and Norbot. The trail will run from 30 June to 31 August across Bristol before an end-of-year auction to support the hospital.