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Altnagelvin Parents Group

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Altnagelvin Parents Group

Altnagelvin parents group support parents of children with lifelong medical conditions

15/04/2026

Life on a children’s ward is never easy. For some families, it means navigating complex conditions and frequent admissions. For others, it’s an unexpected, one-time stay filled with uncertainty. Every story is different but each one matters.

As a charity, our goal is simple: to make that time just a little more comfortable for every family who walks through those doors. Over the years, your support has helped us provide things like beds so every parent can sleep comfortably while staying close to their child, and 50” smart TVs to bring a small sense of normality during difficult days.

We’re incredibly grateful for every donation we receive and even more so for the stories behind them.

Yesterday, we were deeply touched to receive a generous donation of £380 from a parent who recently spent time on the ward with two of their children. A time they will likely never forget.

To our anonymous donor: thank you, from the bottom of our hearts 💚

05/04/2026

Happy Easter to all our families and followers.
We hope you have a lovely day 💚

01/04/2026

We would like to say a huge thank you to Paul and Ashleigh at AP Events NI for this amazing display, bringing a bit of springtime outside wards 6&16.

We hope everyone enjoys seeing the balloons and bright colours as they arrive on the 6th floor.

💚

26/03/2026

Epilepsy Awareness Day ~ Purple Day💜

The Day is celebrated worldwide on March 26th.

If you have epilepsy, or know someone who has, you will know its effects. It’s an extremely serious condition that impacts the lives of the children, their families and loved ones.

The purpose of Epilepsy Awareness Day is to raise public awareness of this neurological condition, which affects about 1 in 26 children and adults globally, and to remind people living with epilepsy everywhere that they are not alone.

Many of our families in Altnagelvin Parents Group are proudly raising epilepsy warriors and would like to encourage everyone to wear something purple today.

15/03/2026

Being in hospital isn’t easy at any time of the year, but it can be especially tough on Mother’s Day.

This weekend we brought cupcakes and care boxes for all the mammies & carers on the childrens wards, to enjoy a little treat on us.

Happy Mothers Day 💐
💚

Western Health and Social Care Trust

Mc Daids Bakery / U-Bake

13/03/2026

It’s ‘hats on for hydrocephalus’ awareness week.

Hydrocephalus is caused by cerebro-spinal fluid being unable to drain into the bloodstream causing that fluid to build up & put pressure on the brain. There are two types of hydrocephalus, congenital (born with) or acquired. Acquired can be caused by damage to brain tissue through head injury, haemorrhage or infection.

This week Shine (a uk charity) would love everyone to put on their favourite headwear, take a photo.

We would like to support Shine with this campaign… please join in if you can, ask your friends and family to get involved, share your photos in the comments below & tag using
& help raise awareness of hydrocephalus for all the hydro warriors out there.

Photographed in this post with her ‘hat on’ is Laura, a member of Altnagelvin parents group.

Thank you to mum Lori for sharing.
💚

08/03/2026

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2026

This International Women’s Day, we want to acknowledge every woman raising children with disabilities and additional needs.

These are women who have had to walk away from relationships, friendships, careers and education. All done selflessly to care for their children and meet their needs.

These women are advocates for their children. They have had to fight for assessments, services and school places, fight so their child’s voice is heard.

These are the women who unknowing to them epitomise strength, and who deserve to be told today what an amazing job they are doing.

Today let’s acknowledge all woman raising children with complex needs.

💚

13/02/2026

💚 🧸 🏥

It has been a pleasure to co-host the 2026 Teddy Bear Hospital, in partnership with Ulster University Child Health Society and the Western Health and Social Care Trust Health Improvement Equality and Involvement Department.

The aim was to develop a fun and engaging project, focusing on promoting a positive image of the healthcare profession and promoting healthy lifestyles, while aiming to reduce fears children may have of clinical environments.

The parents from Altnagelvin Parents Group have been key to providing information and insight behind uncertainties and fears their children may have developed due to repetitive, yet necessary hospitalisations because of the nature of their children’s medical conditions. This has helped shape all the medical play stations at the event as well as feedback from last years event.

The children had the opportunity to wear child size scrubs, put their teddy through pretend MRI and X-ray machines, get their bloods taken, have an NG tube or cannula fitted and visit the dentist. They were given the opportunity to be the doctor for the day and visit an ambulance. A huge thank you to all the student doctors and nurses from the child health society at university of ulster

Bringing together health and education through play based activities at this early intervention project has hopefully had a positive lasting impact for each and every family taking part.

Thank you for our information stands this year. We had stands from Angel Eyes NI, Encompass My Care App, Care Opinion, PPI, community food and nutrition, physical activity, and smoking cessation.

Exploring the medical world around them through medical play based activities has been an invaluable opportunity.

By bridging the gap between young patients, parents, siblings and the healthcare system, we hope the Teddy Bear Hospital made a lasting impact.

Thank you to all the staff at An Croí Hillcrest Trust for their support on the day and the days leading up to the event.

Thank you to Just Content Studios who provided instant photos on the day for children to take home.

All the lovely photos capturing the event were taken by Peter Mckane.

A special word of thanks to everyone who helped on the day to make this successful event run so smoothly

💚 🧸 🏥

09/02/2026

Booking closes at 11am this morning!
Last few places available 🧸🏥

Together Altnagelvin Parents Group, University of Ulster Child Health Society and WHSCT Health Improvement and Equality Involvement Dept Western Health and Social Care Trust would like to share with you information on our 2026 Teddy Bear Hospital.

It’s a fun parent and child event, the aim is to support children who may have experienced medical traumas, supporting learning through play to help reduce anxieties.

Particularly for children with chronic and long-term conditions who may experience anxiety around appointments, procedures, or hospital settings. Children are encouraged to bring a teddy bear and are supported to carry out procedures such as blood tests, MRIs, and other interventions on their teddies, helping to demystify healthcare in a child-friendly and reassuring way.

This year’s event details:
Date: Wednesday 11th Feb 2026

Venue: An Croí Community Hub, Trench Road, Derry/ Londonderry BT47 2DT

Times & Links to book a place:

Session 1- 10.30am- 12noon https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/teddy-bear-hospital-1030am-12pm-tickets-1980546215044?aff=oddtdtcreator

Session 2- 1pm-2.30pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/teddy-bear-hospital-1pm-230pm-tickets-1980547639304?aff=oddtdtcreator

Note:
Please register each child attending on a separate booking. (1 ticket for each child)

04/02/2026

Together Altnagelvin Parents Group, University of Ulster Child Health Society and WHSCT Health Improvement and Equality Involvement Dept Western Health and Social Care Trust would like to share with you information on our 2026 Teddy Bear Hospital.

It’s a fun parent and child event, the aim is to support children who may have experienced medical traumas, supporting learning through play to help reduce anxieties.

Particularly for children with chronic and long-term conditions who may experience anxiety around appointments, procedures, or hospital settings. Children are encouraged to bring a teddy bear and are supported to carry out procedures such as blood tests, MRIs, and other interventions on their teddies, helping to demystify healthcare in a child-friendly and reassuring way.

This year’s event details:
Date: Wednesday 11th Feb 2026

Venue: An Croí Community Hub, Trench Road, Derry/ Londonderry BT47 2DT

Times & Links to book a place:

Session 1- 10.30am- 12noon https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/teddy-bear-hospital-1030am-12pm-tickets-1980546215044?aff=oddtdtcreator

Session 2- 1pm-2.30pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/teddy-bear-hospital-1pm-230pm-tickets-1980547639304?aff=oddtdtcreator

Note:
Please register each child attending on a separate booking. (1 ticket for each child)

10/01/2026

A generous donation of £200 has been made on behalf of Thomas McLaughlin who would have been celebrating his 18th birthday today.
(Saturday, 10 January)

Thomas is missed and loved by all who knew him. 💚

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