The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) traditionally support two charities during the year and for the first time, the President’s Charity has been chosen as the Children’s Hospital Charity, supporting Sheffield Children’s Hospital to provide world-class care to children from all over the world.
One of three standalone children’s hospital in the UK, Sheffield Children’s Hospital provides world-class care to 260,000 children who rely on it each year. The charity, chosen by MTA President Tony Bowkett, works to enhance Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and its reputation as a world-renowned centre of excellence for the care, prevention and cure of illness in children.
The Children’s Hospital Charity recently announced an appeal to raise £2million towards the build of a new £20million world-class research and technology centre – the National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT).
Plans for the NCCHT include workshops and clinical spaces, with work focusing on developing technologies to address key national strategic priorities in child health including prevention and health inequalities, children’s mental health, obesity, long term conditions, children’s cancer, and children’s disability.
The new 42,000 square foot facility will incorporate the Creativity and Manufacturing Zone, designed to develop the most advanced child health technologies in the world. In addition, the Advanced Rehabilitation Centre will become a centre for immersive technologies and robotics, a state-of-the-art test bed facility for rapid technology assessment in real-word settings.
The Centre will accelerate the research, development and evaluation of child health technologies, joining an impressive portfolio of health and wellbeing research facilities at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.
Commenting on his choice, Tony Bowkett said; “Sheffield Children’s Hospital is an inspiring place, helping to change children’s lives every day. The Children’s Hospital Charity works hard to raise money to fund research into children’s illnesses while providing specialist medical equipment and new facilities to extend the range of treatment being provided. I am delighted that money raised at MTA events this year will go towards supporting pioneering, ground-breaking medical treatment and creating a comfortable and engaging environment for patients at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and the NCCHT.”
The MTA continue to support Mission Motorsport as their second nominated charity running alongside The Presidents Charity for a two-year period. Both charities will be promoted at all MTA events including the AGM, Forecasting Seminars, the Annual Dinner and at the forthcoming MACH exhibition, taking place from 15-19 April 2024 at the NEC, Birmingham.