Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity invites Godel Technologies to children’s hospital to observe pioneering service ahead of Champions for Children Gala Dinner

Manchester tech firm is headline sponsor of Champions for Children Gala dinner which will raise money for two pioneering projects at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH)

The Youth Service and CREW Project at Galaxy House provide crucial support to children and young people

Last week, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity invited Manchester-based tech firm Godel Technologies to observe some of the pioneering work their sponsorship is supporting.
Members of the Godel Technologies team visited the Teen Zone at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH) to see the work of the Youth Service, a pioneering service which helps support children and young people during their time in hospital. Staff from Godel met Youth Service manager Nic Rigby and heard from patients Fatma, 13, and Izzy, 15, who have benefited directly from the service.

The RMCH Youth Service supports patients aged 11 and over with long-term health conditions. The service – one of only three hospital youth services in the country – empowers young people to find their voice, build confidence, and navigate the challenges of their condition, both in hospital and at home.

By building individual, voluntary and trusted relationships, Youth Workers support young people to explore and manage all the different areas of their life which their health condition may have an impact on, helping them to feel seen, heard and understood. By supporting young patients through one of the most challenging periods of their lives, the Youth Workers support young people to develop a sense of identity and independence, enabling them to find their own voice.

The Youth Service and CREW Project at Galaxy House are two projects at RMCH that will be supported by this month’s Champions for Children Gala Dinner, a collaborative charity event hosted by Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity and Foundation 92.

Foundation 92 was founded by the Class of 92 in 2018 and is based in Salford. The charity works across Salford and the Greater Manchester area with a number of different community groups
improving lives through sport, education and bespoke projects, with an emphasis on positive physical and mental wellbeing.
The Foundation supports the wider community, offering help to those living with additional needs and disabilities, those tackling homelessness and young people who have or may be at risk of committing offences.

The glitzy Champions For Children Gala Dinner event will take place at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse on the evening of Thursday 20 March, bringing together the city’s business, sport and entertainment communities for an evening of glamour and fundraising. Proceeds from the event will be split between both charities, supporting projects that improve lives and futures for young people across the region.Gareth Ainsworth, Chief Executive Officer at Godel Technologies said:

“Supporting the Champions for Children Gala Dinner is a privilege for us at Godel Technologies. It allows us to give back to the community in a meaningful way, helping to ensure that children at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital receive additional support beyond the outstanding care and treatment they receive day in and day out from the NHS.

“As a business, this partnership reinforces our commitment to social responsibility and reminds us that success is not just about growth; it’s about making a difference. The event also connects us with like-minded organisations that share our passion for helping others. We would encourage other businesses to get involved to create a lasting impact on young lives and inspire hope for families facing difficult times.”

To say thank you for their continued support, young patients from RMCH presented Godel employees with a framed piece of artwork at the hospital’s Teen Zone and recorded a special thank you message for everyone at the company. The visit also took in the RMCH rooftop, another major project at the hospital that was completed with the help of charity funding.

The dinner will also support patients cared for in the hospital’s inpatient mental health unit, Galaxy House, funding workshops that enable patients to use music and creative expression to build confidence, self-esteem and re-establish their identity.

Speaking on his experience of visiting RMCH, Jack Snelling, Chief Sales Officer at Godel Technologies said:

“Visiting the Teen Zone at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital was an incredibly moving and inspiring experience. Seeing firsthand the positive impact of the work the charity is doing was truly special. Donations received from organisations allow the charity to support young patients further, offering additional youth services, excursions, and a newly launched hub, designed by the young patients for the young patients. Seeing the comfort, creativity, and sense of normality it can offer during difficult times truly brought home the importance of our support.
“We had the pleasure of meeting patients Izzy and Fatma, and some members of the team. Hearing their personal stories reinforced the importance of the Youth Service in offering emotional and social support alongside medical care. Donations like ours directly contribute to making a real difference in the lives of children and their families, and we are honoured to play a part in helping sustain this valuable resource.”

Rachel Laycock, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity said:
“It was a privilege to be able to show members of staff from Godel Technologies around Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and letting them see firsthand the tangible and life-changing outcomes of their fundraising. We’re extremely grateful to them for their support and commitment to improving young people’s lives across the region.”
“The Champions for Children Gala Dinner is such an exciting event and we are so thankful to the Manchester business community and businesses like Godel for their help in making it happen. We can’t wait to see what we can achieve on the night and we’d encourage anyone thinking about snapping up one of the few remaining tables to act fast. It’s going to be an incredible event.”