Nationwide branches celebrate Elf Day in aid of Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity
Back in December, Nationwide branches across Ripley, Mickleover and Derby took part in a festive Elf Day to raise money for Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity. We had the pleasure of visiting each branch along with our mascot Lambie, where we were greeted by festive smiles, twinkling lights and an incredible display of holiday spirit!
Staff at all three branches were fully embraced by the Elf Day theme, dressing up as cheerful elves and getting involved in various fundraising activities. From raffles and cake sales to reindeer food and fun competitions, the teams worked hard to raise funds for both Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity and Action for Children. The branches were beautifully decorated, and staff had made full use of the Elf Day resources pack, issued by the charity, which included elf bunting for an extra touch of holiday cheer.
When we spoke to staff at each branch, they shared their personal connections to the hospitals and their reasons for taking part in our charity Elf Day. Many of them had been directly impacted by the care provided by University Hospitals Derby and Burton, making their fundraising efforts even more meaningful.
Kath, Manager at the Ripley branch of Nationwide, shared that six years ago, she suffered a head injury and was inspired by her experience to start an annual tradition of donating toys to children. “I wanted to give back,” Kath explained, showing the deep gratitude that fuels her efforts year after year.

At the Derby branch, Angela shared a heartfelt story about her mother, who received end-of-life care at the Nightingale Macmillan Unit. Angela described how the staff’s compassion and dedication made her mother’s final days as comfortable as possible, and this experience motivated her to support the charity in any way she could. Angela also mentioned the fact anyone raising money for Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity can choose which department receives the money is a big motivator to support causes close to your heart.

Nationwide staff are given one paid volunteering day per year and many took this opportunity to take part in Elf Day in support of Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity. Nadine, from the Derby branch, spoke warmly of the care her son received at the Royal Derby Hospital, saying, “You can’t get a better cause” to raise money for, further emphasising the strong bond between the staff and the local hospital community.
Nationwide has a history of supporting Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity. A few years ago, the team raised enough funds to purchase sensory equipment for the children’s department, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to making a difference in the community.
A huge thank you to everyone at Nationwide for making Elf Day a truly memorable and impactful event! Your generosity, kindness, and holiday spirit will make a lasting difference, and we are incredibly grateful for your continued support.
If you would like to donate to any of the departments within our five hospitals visit our donate page Donate – DBHC, alternatively if you would like to support our charity in other ways visit our get involved page Get involved – DBHC for ideas and our latest list of events.