9 October 2025
With a beautiful beach mural, outdoor cinema screen and plenty of colour, a once-tired outdoor space has blossomed into a garden to be proud of for young Wolverhampton patients and their families.
After months of fundraising through Your RWTC – The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s charity – supported by kind-hearted supporters and businesses, the garden off the Children’s Ward at New Cross Hospital is now just what the doctor ordered to help recovery.
And all their hard work was celebrated at a special opening event yesterday where Florence Smith, six, and Elliott McNaughton, five, cut the ribbon to declare the revamped resource officially open.
They joined the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Craig Collingswood, Prof Martin Levermore, Chair of the Trust’s Charitable Funds Committee, lead fundraisers Jason and Aimee Guy and thrilled staff to explore the brand new haven which has been described as “incredible.”
Kirsty Lewis, Senior Matron for Acute Children’s Services, said: “The transformation is incredible – we must never underestimate the importance of play and being able to offer space away from treatment and observations for our patients and their families.”
The Mayor said: “We can all see the impact of having such a space and I’m proud to be here in support of Your RWTC as one of my chosen charities this year.”
The fundraising first got off the ground through champion fundraiser Jason Guy and his wife Aimee, whose young daughter Olivia has a genetic condition and has been a regular patient at the hospital.
“I’m so proud to be born in Wolverhampton and living in this city, supporting our local hospital and community. The garden was dated and drab but now it looks fantastic and is a space for everybody – children and their families,” he said.
Amanda Winwood, Charity Development Manager, said Your RWTC was grateful to everyone who had helped it reach its £39,000 fundraising target.
“We’d also like to thank Tim Lewis from Inco Contracts, Elliott’s dad Jon who also fundraised, Mr Mural for bringing the garden to life with the beach mural and the Trust’s own Estates Team, particularly those responsible for grounds and electrics. We couldn’t have made this transformation happen with out their fantastic can do attitude and determination.
“We know this special space will provide a wonderful environment for our patients and families and it’s actually quite emotional to stop and reflect on how much hard work has gone into this.”