Media centre

• WellChild is privileged to have The Duke of Sussex as its Patron.
• WellChild has more than 40 specialist WellChild Nurses working in leading children’s hospitals and communities in every country of the UK.
• Last year, WellChild Nurses supported over 2,300 children, young people and families.
• Last year, through its Helping Hands programme, WellChild volunteers transformed 37 bedroom and gardens into safe, accessible and sensory spaces for children living at home with serious health needs.
• More than 2,500 families are connected for mutual support and friendship through the WellChild Family Tree online network and family events.
• The annual WellChild Awards, regularly attended by The Duke of Sussex and a host of celebrity guests, helps the charity shine a light on the needs of children and young people with serious health conditions.
• With less than 2% of income coming from statutory sources, WellChild is wholly reliant on the fundraising support of individuals and organisations.

Matt James, Director of Communications and Engagement.
Matt joined WellChild in 2015 following over ten years in the technology industry. Matt leads the communications and engagement teams at WellChild, ensuring that the charity continues to punch above its weight in getting the issues faced by thousands of families across the UK firmly in the public eye. He has a keen interest in the transformative potential of digital technology for social good and was recently instrumental in kick starting a Comic Relief funded project into the development of a mobile app to help parents manage their child’s complex medicine requirements.

Abby Guilding, Director of Fundraising
Abby joined WellChild in 2020 and has worked in the voluntary sector for nearly 10 years. After studying dietetics, she found her place within the charity sector and prior to joining the team Abby headed up a Gloucestershire food charity. Whilst there, she was fundamental in the creation of flagship social enterprise projects; establishing relationships with commissioners and supporters; redefining the charity’s goals; and developing new income streams. Abby is passionate about health and wellbeing and enjoys developing sustainable relationships to make significant impacts. In her spare time, Abby enjoys cooking for family and friends, and can often be found on long dog walks across the Cotswolds.

WellChild Parent Ambassadors and WellChild Nurses across the UK are also able to provide unique, powerful and expert insight into the needs of families and the reality of life caring for a child with serious health needs.