Peterborough Hospital children's ward receives £25,000 boost from Thomas Cook

Zoe Wilkinson, Lead Play Specialist, said: “We are extremely excited and so grateful for the opportunity to improve our play facilities.

“Fresh air and outside play is especially important for children who are sick or have long stays in hospital.

“Currently, our play area isn’t fully accessible for children with certain disabilities and conditions and the work that we now have planned will change that.”

The £25,000 donation comes as a community grant from the Thomas Cook Children’s Charity.

Theresa Monson, Thomas Cook Children’s Charity, said: “As a business local to Peterborough City Hospital, awarding the grant was a great opportunity to invest in the local community, especially as some of our colleagues have had children or family and friends staying on the Amazon ward. It’s a very worthy cause and we’re excited to see the finished play area.”

Work will begin in the next few weeks with involvement from a number of local companies supplying various equipment and artwork.

Zoe said: “We have an amazing graffiti artist who is going to cover all the white wall space outside. We’re sticking with the jungle theme but planning on incorporating images from the old hospital site too. The children will even get a chance to join in and add to the artwork themselves during special workshops.”

The new play area is expected to be complete in the spring, just in time for the children to enjoy it over the summer months.