Creating Extraordinary Journeys Together for Children and Young People
In 2025, we were delighted to continue our special partnership with the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) at their annual conference.
For more than a decade, the support of Steven Freudmann, Chairman of the ITT, the Board and ITT members has made a remarkable difference to children, young people and families at Alder Hey.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of ITT members, the funds raised through the conference helped us deliver a summer programme of creative activities for young people staying at Sunflower House, our mental health inpatient unit for children aged 5–13 years.
The programme included theatre and drama workshops, music and song writing sessions, rap and lyric writing, willow weaving, arts and crafts, and DJing experiences. These activities provided children with opportunities to try something new, develop confidence, express themselves creatively and maintain a sense of routine throughout the school holidays.
One particularly special legacy of the programme can still be seen today in the Sunflower House courtyard, where three giant willow sunflowers created by the young people now stand proudly as a lasting reminder of their creativity and achievement.
Your generosity continues to create brighter experiences for children and young people facing some of life’s toughest challenges.
We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported Alder Hey through the ITT over the years, with special thanks to Arosa River Cruises and MSC Cruises for their longstanding support of the Gala Dinner.
This year, through a live and silent auction ITT members will continue to support ‘the magic’ at Alder Hey, helping us to fund dedicated time for our clinicians to focus on problem-solving and developing the latest healthcare technologies for children. As part of the pledge element of the Gala Dinner, guests will also be able to help us raise funds for Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, creating some magic that could positively shape the
experience of a child visiting Alder Hey.