We are incredibly proud to share that our shoeboxes have now been collected and will be delivered to the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital, supported by CHUF (Children’s Heart Unit Fund).
Students and staff from Years 8 to 11 at XP Gateshead stepped up to this challenge with care and generosity, creating a wonderful collection of shoeboxes filled with thoughtful gifts and festive treats. These will be shared with children and parents who will unfortunately be spending Christmas in hospital—many of whom have already been there for a very long time.
This initiative was inspired by Beatrix’s story and her family’s willingness to share their experiences of life on the Children’s Heart Unit. Their courage, kindness and determination helped both students and staff better understand the realities faced by families during long hospital stays, particularly at Christmas.
Activism is at the heart of much of what we do at XP Gateshead, and this reverse Advent challenge is a powerful example of Crew in action—bringing students and staff together to show compassion, responsibility and care for others. We are incredibly proud of the empathy and character shown by our community, and grateful to CHUF for the vital support they provide to families at the Children’s Heart Unit at such a challenging time of year.