4 days ago
North West business funds Bolton's first 'Saturday Night Supper' for child patients
A North West family business has helped Royal Bolton host its first 'Saturday Night Supper', to feed and support parents, carers and families whose children are staying in hospital overnight.
Chris Mealing, from Pay Smart Carpets, visited the children's ward on Saturday 26 July armed with food worth more than £120 so that parents could enjoy a treat without the worry of leaving the ward or having to fund their evening meal.
More than a dozen patients and their families, including parents, carers, siblings and visitors, were able to enjoy the treats alongside ward staff.
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Chris is a long-standing supporter of Our Bolton NHS Charity and with his employer, Pay Smart Carpets, he's now taking his support to the next level. Throughout 2025 the business has:
- Attended the Trust's Staff Health and Wellbeing Day in July.
- Pledged to supply a new fridge-freezer for the children's ward.
- Supplied food for the children's ward's first 'Saturday Night Supper'.
- Pledged to supply three picnic benches that will be installed outside the hospital's Education Centre for the benefit of staff, patients and visitors.
Chris said: 'It wasn't just a meal, it was a moment for children and their families to come together, feel supported, and find comfort in knowing they're not alone.
Chris' story (Image: Bolton NHS FT)
'Our Bolton NHS Charity supported me during a difficult time, and through Pay Smart Carpets, I'm proud to give back and recognise the remarkable, often unspoken dedication of the staff who go above and beyond every day.'
Royal Bolton's 'Saturday Night Supper' is inspired by Sophie's Legacy, which was created in memory of Sophie Fairall and the legacy of change she wanted to create.
Sophie was just nine years old when she was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer, which meant that she and her parents spent a lot of time in hospital.
One of the changes Sophie wanted her mum to put in place after her death is for parents to be fed when staying with their child.
Taken from the foundation website, Sophie used to say 'my mum has no choice but to be here, she is here because I am poorly yet she is not fed.'
The 'Saturday Night Supper' marked one year since the Trust launched an initiative to feed parents and carers in hospital, which was made possible thanks to a collaboration between NHS England, Sophie's Legacy, Our Bolton NHS Charity and Team 1C.
Sarah Skinner, Our Bolton NHS Charity Manager, said: 'We're incredibly grateful to receive the ongoing support of Chris and Pay Smart Carpets, whose heartfelt gestures are helping us to make a difference in the lives of our patients and staff.
'It was very special to be able to mark a year of our feeding parents and carers initiative with some special treats for the children, and their families and carers, who were spending a night in hospital away from the comfort of home.
'We all use the NHS throughout our lives and Our Bolton NHS Charity is proud to be able to fund and facilitate initiatives, such as these, that make a hospital stay more comfortable for all the family.'
