We are delighted to announce that our Head of Charity and Volunteering, Emma Kovaleski, and Communications and Marketing Assistant, Emily Overend have won this months CHFT STAR Award! The pair have won for their hard work and help with launching the five-year Trust-wide strategy for the care of children and young people (CYP) and the Ray of Sunshine Campaign. 

Emma and Emily were nominated by Lead Nurse for Children and Young People, Julie Mellor, who said: "Emily and Emma have gone above and beyond to help me with the launch of the five-year Trust-wide strategy. This has been pivotal to our continued journey of improvement for the care of children and young people. Our hospitals should feel magical for them. No child or young person should feel intimidated in our hospitals or when receiving care in the community. 

"I was tasked with developing the strategy as an individual. Having the support of the Charity helps to make the voices of children and young people louder, rather than just my individual voice. 

"Emma and I were the faces in a lot of meetings for this strategy, but Emily has worked her socks off behind the scenes. She's done all the design and branding work to make it what it is today."

After receiving their Star Award, Emma said: "All this came from Julie asking for a pen! Julie had done the strategy but knew it needed to be brought to life in some way. She wanted it to be more interactive, fun and inspirational. And that's where we came in."

Emily said: "We've been living and breathing this for so long now. It's given us a real sense of purpose in the team and to be recognised for it feels really nice. Magical even!"

The next steps for the Ray of Sunshine Campaign is to take it on the road. Our goal is to take it into the community, to  engage with schools, businesses, community and sports clubs to get people behind the campaign so that we can continue funding to help children and young people at CHFT.