Bfriends Charity: Thank You for Helping Us Light Up Christmas

Bfriends Charity are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported our first ‘Light Up a Birmingham Child’s Christmas’ campaign. This campaign was created to support Birmingham Children’s Trust to make the festive period more special for the children it works with as well as care leavers.

Thanks to the enormous generosity of our supporters, we didn’t just reach our £10,000 target – we exceeded it!

This meant the Trust could host an unforgettable dinner and party on Christmas Day for our care leavers and their loved ones, some of whom may have otherwise spent the day alone. One of the young people who attended sent this message of thanks:

“I am writing to say a huge thank you for the Christmas Day meal. I had a brilliant time.

“The food was lovely, and the atmosphere was so welcoming. I really appreciate the hard work the Trust staff and Bfriends put in to make the day so special for us. I honestly cannot thank you all enough for your kindness. It was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed myself immensely.

“Thank you for making Christmas Day so special.”

As part of our Bfriends Christmas Campaign partners and businesses from across the city also supported us with toys and other gifts for children and young people supported by Birmingham Children’s Trust, including:

• Pace Group led a large campaign across the UK with staff from all offices buying hundreds of presents from a wish list created by children in care and care leavers. Our special thanks goes to Tom Bray and the team at The Pace Group.

• Willmott Dixon Birmingham came together to purchase gifts for young people and adults throughout December and dedicated a social value morning to wrapping the gifts. Our thanks goes to Jordan Rees and the team at Willmott Dixon.

• BCFC Official Supporters club led a campaign with other supporters’ clubs from across the city raising money for wellbeing items for care leavers and donating food items, clothing items and toys. Our thanks goes to Chairman of the OSC, Sukh Singh and Vice Chair, Paul Delves and Blue Noses all across the city.

• Bfriends also worked in partnership with Thrive Together Birmingham Toys4Brum Campaign who provided several large bags full of hundreds of toys and personal items for care leavers. Our thanks goes to Fred Ratley and everyone at Thrive.

• Equans at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham led a campaign with all staff from across sites purchasing new toys for young people. Our thanks goes to Nicola Ellsmore and everyone and Equans.

• Jacobs Birmingham led a campaign in the central office donating many toys and personal items for young people and adults. Our thanks go to Daniel Hickman and everyone at Jacobs.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the businesses who supported our campaign:

Ardent Glazing
ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems
Fairview Beauty
Fitnniss – Wellbeing in Care
GMB
J.O Groundworks Ltd
Jacobs
Kerv
OTD
RSS Infrastructure Ltd / Auctus Management Group Ltd
Sketch Creative
Stanford Industrial Concrete Flooring
The Commercial Flooring Company
Wieland Metals Birmingham
Willmott Dixon

A special thank you goes to Constructing Excellence Midlands, who had the honour of lighting the star on the Christmas tree. This moment perfectly captured what the campaign stood for – partnership, hope and the power of coming together for our children and young people. 

A word from our Fundraising Manager, Pauline Manby 

“The support and unwavering commitment from our existing partners and new businesses has been extraordinary. 

This was my first fundraising campaign with Bfriends since joining in October 2025, and together with Constructing Excellence Midlands, we made it possible for care experienced young people to feel important — as every young person should — and to create a day they will remember. 

In the most challenging fundraising climate in a decade, ‘Light Up a Birmingham Child’s Christmas’ was powered by heartfelt donations and exceptional teamwork.” 

A message from Natalie Loon, Operations & Partnerships Manager 

“The way our partners, businesses and individual friends came together was incredible. Their support enabled us to provide thousands of young people and adults known to the Trust with a gift or personal item on Christmas morning, and to support our Christmas Day meal for care leavers. 

“We are so grateful for the dedication and commitment shown to our young people.” 

From everyone at Bfriends, thank you for helping us light up Christmas — and for making such a powerful difference. We look forward to your ongoing support in 2026.