We’re pleased to announce that Simon Cox of Walter Cooper is joining us as Chair of the new Children’s Big Build Philanthropy Board.

Simon has been a passionate supporter of the hospitals’ charity since 2020. He contacted us at the height of the pandemic, offering to buy hospital staff pizzas. This led to him funding hundreds of ‘Boost Boxes’ that we had recently started providing for staff.

Simon, however, wanted to help staff with something more substantial so over the next three years, Walter Cooper funded training opportunities, worth £10,000 each year, in both clinical and non-clinical areas that were outside the NHS development schemes.

This support for staff has now evolved into Walter Cooper sponsoring staff reward and recognition schemes. Staff who go above and beyond in demonstrating the trust's values of improve, include and respect, are awarded £250 and one overall winner receives an annual £1,000 prize.

The partnership has gone from strength to strength and in addition to the staff reward schemes, the focus then turned to the annual Hertfordshire Residential Development Awards (HRDAs) fundraising event.

Simon, with his background in this area, came up with the idea for the awards and has headed a committee of stakeholders to help this event establish and grow significantly in just two years, raising £50,000 in 2024 to £89,000 unrestricted income in 2025. It has also helped build relationships with other businesses, celebrities and other supporters which has brought in new income for the hospitals’ charity.

We are now honoured to have Simon chair this new Philanthropy Board, whose focus will be to raise funds for the Children’s Big Build project with their business networks within the local community.

The hospitals’ charity is aiming to raise £2million to turn a new, purpose-built facility at Lister Hospital into a magical, state-of-the-art children's unit.

Our NHS trust has £11million to construct the two-storey building, which will include 20 inpatient beds, 14 consulting rooms and clinical assessment and care units. With the help of the local community, the charity can add £2million to the project to enhance this centre of excellence for children's healthcare.

Simon told us: “As a local father of three, I feel personally invested in the new Lister children’s unit and I am determined to make this project the best it can be.  This is a fantastic opportunity for us to create something truly incredible; a leading centre of excellence, built for the future of children’s healthcare. Together as a community, we can leave a lasting legacy for our children and for generations to come.”