Partnership in action: Deloitte and Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity renew their commitment to transform lives

When businesses and charities commit to working together for the long term, the results can be transformative. That’s the story of Deloitte and Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity (BWHC), both members of the Bristol Initiative, who have renewed their partnership for another three years to continue making a difference for children and families at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. 

We spoke with Dave Tansley and Adam Powell, Partners at Deloitte, and Elaine Gibson, Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships at BWHC about their partnership and future plans.

A strategic partnership built on shared values

Three years ago, a partnership was formed with a clear goal: to make a meaningful difference for children and families at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. This strategic, long-term collaboration aims to deliver lasting impact through financial support, employee engagement, and skills-based volunteering.

The partnership has already delivered significant impact, and for Deloitte, this work reflects its broader purpose. As Adam explains:

“We’re making a lasting, meaningful impact that aligns with the skills pillar of our social impact strategy.”

For BWHC, the value lies in the depth of commitment. Elaine describes what it means to have this ongoing support:

“The most rewarding aspect of the partnership for us is seeing Deloitte’s deep commitment, driven from the top down. It’s not just about financial support, it’s about people, skills, and a shared vision.”

Deloitte colleagues have gone beyond traditional fundraising. They’ve embraced hands-on volunteering on hospital wards and taken on ambitious fundraising challenges, such as the Bath Half Marathon, Great Bristol Runs, Jurassic Coast Challenge, and Big Bristol Abseil, turning collective effort into tangible results.

“The success of this partnership comes down to passion and trust. Our people feel connected to the cause, and we work incredibly well with the BWHC team. It feels like a true partnership.” 

- Adam Powell, Partner at Deloitte

This combination of strategic alignment, leadership support, and grassroots engagement has created a model that delivers real value, not just for the charity, but for Deloitte’s people and culture as well.

Impact to date

The first three years of the Deloitte–BWHC partnership have delivered:

• £128,000 raised, funding thousands of sessions for young patients.
• 1,027 children supported, with demand for services growing year on year.
• Hundreds of hours of skilled volunteering.

Deloitte colleagues visit the hospital weekly to engage children in educational play, creative activities, and learning support. These sessions not only brighten a child’s day but also give parents a rare and vital opportunity to step away from the bedside, sometimes just to have a shower or a cup of tea.

Parents describe volunteer visits as the highlight of their week, while hospital staff say the additional support has transformed what they can offer. As one volunteer reflected: “The most rewarding moment for me is seeing the children’s faces light up when they know you’re going to play with them. It’s obvious it means so much to them, and they’re always excited to spend time learning and having fun.”

One story illustrates this impact vividly. Patient E, a young girl recovering from brain surgery, faced severe speech difficulties, a common side effect when the part of the brain linked to language is affected. Before surgery, she loved beatboxing and singing, but afterward, she could barely speak. Thanks to Deloitte’s funding, the hospital employs Nuala, a specialist singing teacher, who worked with E using tailored breathing and vocal exercises to sing familiar songs. Within a week, her speech improved by 500%, demonstrating the therapeutic as well as educational value of the programme.

“We are passionate about taking an active role in Bristol, helping build and sustain a place that is not simply liveable, but loveable as well. Our relationship with Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity delivers just that.”

- Dave Tansley, Practice Senior Partner at Deloitte for the South West and Wales 

Spotlight: The Holistic Learning Programme

One of the most transformative outcomes of the multi-year Deloitte–BWHC partnership is the holistic learning programme, which has redefined what education looks like for children in hospital. Before this initiative, patients typically received just one hour of core subject teaching per day. Today, the programme delivers a broad and enriching curriculum that includes science, technology, engineering and maths, digital skills, cooking, drama, and music; activities that build confidence, creativity, and essential life skills.

This programme is a complete shift in what the hospital school can offer. As Elaine at BWHC explains: “Quite simply, this programme wouldn’t exist without Deloitte.”

For both BWHC and the hospital’s education team, this reliable, multi-year support is transformative. The hospital education team can plan ahead, expand provision, and ensure that children in hospital are not left behind their peers.

For BWHC, “Reliable, long-term support means we can start to close the gap between mainstream education and the offer for patients in hospital. Each year, more people at Deloitte understand the partnership and what it achieves, making it easier to spread the word and grow our fundraising goals.”

Advice for organisations considering similar partnerships

Both Deloitte and BWHC agree that successful partnerships are built on more than good intentions, they require alignment, planning, and trust.

For Deloitte, the starting point is choosing the right cause. As their team explains, no single charity will resonate with everyone, so it’s important to select one with broad appeal and where your organisation can make a distinctive impact. This ensures employees feel proud of the partnership and motivated to get involved.

BWHC emphasises the importance of building a core team of champions within the business. “Start by securing buy-in from a few key colleagues and roll it out from there,” they advise. These individuals become the driving force behind fundraising and volunteering, keeping momentum strong.

Both partners stress the need to communicate impact, not just asks. BWHC notes that too many fundraising requests can overwhelm people, so they focus on sharing stories, videos, and photos that show the difference being made. This approach keeps engagement authentic and purpose-driven.

Finally, Deloitte encourages organisations to be both realistic and ambitious. Set achievable goals, but don’t be afraid to challenge yourselves. As Adam reflected: “I didn’t think I would hike 60k of the Jurassic Coast or abseil down a hospital before I got involved with BWHC, but here we are!”

Regular communication between partners, both digitally and face-to-face, rounds out their advice. It’s this ongoing dialogue that turns a good partnership into a great one.

Measuring Success

The Deloitte–BWHC partnership showcases the power of long-term collaboration for meaningful social impact. By combining financial support, employee engagement, and strategic alignment, it transforms opportunities for children in hospital and strengthens community connections.

For Deloitte, it’s a practical expression of purpose, making a meaningful impact while aligning with its social impact strategy. For BWHC, it’s the ability to deliver services that wouldn’t exist without support. For children and families, it brings joy, learning, and a sense of normality during challenging times.

Organisations seeking lasting impact should choose a trusted partner, commit long-term, and measure success beyond financial gains.

Joining the Bristol Initiative is a great way for businesses to do good while strengthening their local community ties. It connects organisations with like-minded partners and offers chances to collaborate on impactful projects.