A new playground for Warrington Hospital’s youngest patients, a buddying programme for homeless people in the town and a project to create comforting spaces for local families who’ve lost a baby are among the causes getting a cash boost from a Warrington property company this autumn.

Grants from Assura’s Healthy Communities Scheme are supporting work to help families at Warrington Hospital and those with nowhere to live in the town, as well as to help make chemotherapy a little less stressful for Warrington patients travelling to The Christie for treatment.

Assura, which builds and looks after GP surgery and primary care buildings across the country, runs the annual scheme to support projects which make a difference to the health of people in Warrington.

CEO Jonathan Murphy says:

“We had a huge rise in the number of applications for grants from local charities and projects this year, and they all had such strong stories to tell about how they’re working to make a difference to health in Warrington. Our whole team voted to choose four final projects, which was no easy task – and we all look forward to seeing the funding in action.”

The four charities receiving Healthy Community Scheme grants are:

• Running4 Dr Ozzy has used Assura funding to support two local children, Ruben and Elena Evans-Guillen, on their quest to run 100km to raise funds for a new play area in Warrington hospital. The new park will have a nautical theme with interactive games, a sensory garden and a covered area with wheelchair access, allowing children who are not able to leave their beds to be able to join in and experience something other than the four walls of the ward. Mark, father of Ruben and Elena Evans-Guillen, says “We just wanted to do something amazing for the community, the kids have so much energy and when that can be channelled amazing things can happen”.


• Harry and Co, a charity for families who’ve lost a baby. They will use Assura’s funding to add soothing artwork, soft furnishings and other comforting touches to their specialist suites at Warrington Hospital for families allowing them to spend time with their child in a space which feels more like home and less like a hospital. Speaking on behalf of the charity, Holly says: “The grant we have received from Assura for Harry and Co has been invaluable in allowing us to purchase accessories and kitchen utensils for the bereavement suite at Warrington Hospital which is currently under refurbishment. The outstanding money will allow us to continue providing a suitable environment for bereaved parents to support them during such a difficult time and provide them with memory making facilities should they wish to use them.”


• Room at the Inn and the Y project offers a ten-bed shelter which works with homeless and very vulnerable people in Warrington. The project will use Assura’s funding to support their buddying programme, helping clients who have drug or alcohol addictions to get to appointments with GPs or dentists, and also to help run group walks to start their day more positively. Susan Blyth, Manager, says: “Thank you for the grant of £1,000 this has provided us with the opportunity to make ‘small steps and differences’ – to people who are marginalised and homeless. Promoting their health and wellbeing is an essential part of the work we do.


• The Christie Charitable Fund will use Assura’s funding to provide complementary therapists who give treatments and massages to chemotherapy and radiotherapy outpatients, including patients coming from NHS Warrington CCG. A foot massage while hooked up to a chemotherapy pump is a welcome distraction for patients. Jessica Davies, Corporate Fundraising Assistant, says: “This donation will enable us to offer a range of therapies such as aromatherapy and reflexology to help patients cope with the stress of living with cancer.”