The Clifton-based firm, a FTSE 100 company, has thrown its support behind the new scheme, which sees Foundation coaches deliver inclusive activity sessions to hospital patients and their siblings.
Former Bristol Bears scrum half, James Grindal, now a Partner and Chartered Financial Planner at St James’s Place, said: “The St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation is an integral part of our company and culture.
“From my time playing with Bristol, I appreciate the fantastic work that the Bristol Sport Foundation does within our community and the importance of the Foundation to the club and it’s culture.
“Having spoken to Ben Breeze and Rob Webber about the Forever Champions Programme at the Bristol Royal Hospital for children, it stood out as a project which the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation are very pleased to give a local office grant to and proud to be involved with.”
The Forever Champions programme takes mainstream physical education and sports coaching to the hospital to bring a smile to the faces of children being treated there.
Through delivering inclusive and adapted sports, children are given the opportunity to socialise on the ward, while also giving parents and carers some respite and improving their time in hospital using the power of sport.
Chief Community Officer, Ben Breeze said: “We are hugely grateful to St James’s place for their donation towards a really special and impactful programme at the hospital.
“Our mission is to make Bristol active, healthy and happy, and Forever Champions enables young patients at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children to participate in physical exercise as they would do at school.
“But we can’t do the work we do without the support of local businesses, so we’re delighted to team up with St James’s Place to build on the early success of Forever Champions.”
