Published on: 11 December 2025
As Christmas nears, the League of Friends at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is preparing donations for patients using its mental health, learning disabilities, and children’s services.
The Trust’s League of Friends is a volunteer-run charity that organises gifts to patients over different wards.
Photographed: some of the Trust's League of Friends volunteers at this year's Christmas League of Friends Fayre
Pauline Gregory, Chair of the Trust’s League of Friends, coordinated all the donations and shared: “This year, the League of Friends charity donations will provide gifts to every inpatient over the festive period. For many years, the charity has given Christmas gifts to patients to help make their hospital stay a bit brighter during what can be a challenging time.
“We started giving gifts because we realised that some patients without family wouldn’t receive any presents at Christmas. From then on, the League decided to donate gifts for these patients each year before Christmas.”
Donations will be shared across the Trust’s hospital units in Derby and Chesterfield for all inpatients.
Mark Powell, Chief Executive at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The League of Friends have once again generously provided donations for our patients. We hope these donations bring some festive cheer to our wards and make patients’ time with us more enjoyable.
“These donations have always been well received and continue to be a valued tradition. The charity has supported our patient care in the past, so we extend our sincere thanks for their continued generosity.”
