GOSH Charity launches childhood-focused campaign

The charity is sharing the stories of many GOSH patients to highlight the reality of childhoods impacted by serious illness, but also the bravery and determination of our children and young people and their families.

GOSH Charity funds vital services from groundbreaking research, cutting-edge medical equipment, child-centred medical facilities as well as the support children and families going through the toughest journey of their lives urgently need, like free home-from-home accommodation near the hospital.

The charity’s campaign will focus on giving children the best chance to fulfil their childhood dreams and aspirations, and it has refreshed how it looks as part of this.

As part of its refreshed look, the charity has updated its logo which was originally designed by Neil Godfrey for the Wishing Well Appeal in 1987 and inspired by a young patient’s drawing. While improving accessibility and legibility across print and digital channels, the logo has been updated to incorporate a child’s drawing style. The charity will also change its main brand colour from purple to bright blue, which also aids accessibility and legibility of text and illustrations.

Louise Parkes, Chief Executive of GOSH Charity said: “At GOSH Charity, we fund vital services and research that drives progress to help Great Ormond Street Hospital go above and beyond for seriously ill children.

“That’s why we’re urging the public to join us and donate today, as we work to give seriously ill children the best chance, and the best childhood possible.”

To launch the campaign, the charity has released new research revealing the careers that children and young people dream of while they are growing up, with footballer, gamer or streamer topping the poll.  The charity also polled children and young people on the moments they’re most looking forward to in the coming year and is sharing the research today to help launch a new campaign highlighting the impact of serious illness on every part of childhood.

This is something Merley, mother to six-year-old GOSH patient Ezra, who spent almost a year in isolation following a bone marrow transplant for a rare condition called Severe aplastic anaemia, knows all about. Ezra is one of the children starring in GOSH Charity’s new campaign.

Merley said: “Ezra missed out on a lot of childhood moments because he was ill; his first day at school, learning to ride a bike alongside his sister, his fifth birthday party. He had no energy so couldn’t go outside and play or do group activities. I was really sad about it. He couldn’t enjoy that whole part of his life and it engulfed the whole family – we missed out on two years of family life.

“But GOSH and the services GOSH Charity funds really helped us. Physically and emotionally, GOSH was there for us, and that gave us hope. GOSH is very child-centred; the play team and all the staff helped Ezra forget about the serious stuff and allowed him to have fun and dream big, regardless. They encouraged his creativity, helped with his education and nurtured his abilities, so he was able to have his childhood in hospital and his aspirations for the future.

“I’m so proud that now Ezra dreams of becoming a firefighter when he grows up, a life-saver, just like GOSH has been for us.”

The charity worked with many people across the hospital to develop its refreshed brand and campaign.

For more information on GOSH Charity visit gosh.org.