It has been a momentous year for the Cambridge Children's Hospital project, as we get ever closer to building the first specialist children's hospital for the East of England. The festive season is now upon us and as the year draws to a close, we wanted to share our progress on the project in 2025 - the big moments, memories and milestones that have shaped the year.
For me, the highlights of 2025 happened all around the hospital site: the appointment of our construction partner - Bouygues UK - and the arrival of our shared office spaces in the new Collaboration Hub on the hospital site. All of this means major progress toward the start of the build. Bring on the diggers in 2027!
Clinical Director, Dr Rob Heuschkel
The new Collaboration Hub, on the Cambridge Children's Hospital site opposite the Rosie Maternity Hospital, has been providing valuable office space for our project team and construction colleagues from Bouygues UK to collaborate and work alongside each other, including for our recent design workshops with staff, young people, parents and carers. The three offices are named after children from across the region who have been part of our journey.
Children, young people, parents and carers have continued to help shape the plans for the hospital and we are hugely grateful for their input.
Katie, the former chair of our Youth and Young Adult Forums, made a huge impact helping to ensure youth voices are at the forefront of the project.
The most memorable moment for me was when I was invited to meet the contractor team leading the building of the hospital. This symbolic moment felt hugely special as it represented the vision of the hospital coming to life in a tangible way. It was an exciting reminder of the reality of this incredible project!
Katie, former chair of the Cambridge Children's Hospital's Youth Forums
In July 2025, we attended a Family Activity Day for the children cared for by the oncology and haematology teams at Addenbrooke's Hospital. It was a special opportunity for us to share the vision for Cambridge Children's Hospital with children, young people and families who have been affected by cancer.
Reflecting on the day, Ellen Nowak, from the Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) Arts team, said: "Creativity has the power to calm, connect and bring joy - and this highlight from 2025 was a perfect example.
"We were thrilled to team up with artist Sandra Scott for an arts activity, and the kids got busy making their own calming clay amulets - small keepsakes inspired by nature that were shaped perfectly to fit their hands.
"Think worry pebble meets fidget toy, each one as unique as the child who made it. There were big smiles, messy hands, and so many proud moments."
Kate, one of our Parent Advocates, has been using her lived experience to help us get the future hospital right for the families and patients who use it.
Speaking at a Cheffins fundraising event in October, Kate said: "After ten years of rehabilitation following our son's severe traumatic brain injury, I had the opportunity to emphasise how play brings physical and mental health together for families as 'rehab in disguise'.
"I shared how rehabilitation doesn't always look clinical. It doesn't always happen in surgery rooms and ICUs. Sometimes it happens on soft mats with silly toys. Play became the language when there were no words. It was such a meaningful moment to communicate with generous donors that families, who become 'mini rehab teams' overnight, need a dedicated space to reclaim their childhood as a critical part of successful recovery.”
We asked Neil Pixsley, Operations Director for Healthcare at Bouygues UK, what his highlight has been since the appointment and bringing our teams together on site.
Neil said: "At Bouygues UK we’re proud to be the construction partner for the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital.
One of my standout memories so far has been our recent team building event. It was a great chance for everyone to come together, strengthen collaboration, and get to know each other. Experiences like this show how committed and passionate our team and partners are. I’m really looking forward to what we’ll achieve together as this fantastic project moves ahead.
Neil Pixsley, Operations Director for Healthcare, Bouygues UK
Our Youth and Young Adult forums have gone from strength to strength - and even won two awards! To celebrate they decided to use their prize money for a team trip to a wildlife park. Luke, who is Vice-Chair of the Youth Forum, said it was his highlight of 2025.
I really enjoyed going to Shepreth Wildlife Park with the Youth forum. It was amazing to see everyone in person and finding out about all the animals there. It was great to get to know everyone better and we all had an amazing time. I am thankful for being part of the Youth Forum and also enjoyed being the Vice Chair, where I help chair meetings and attend events. I have found this role really exciting.
Luke, Vice-Chair of Cambridge Children's Hospital's Youth Forum
To date, our Regional Ambassadors have raised an incredible £20 million to help bring Cambridge Children's Hospital to life. Dame Mary Archer DBE is the Co-Chair of our Campaign Board and wanted to thank all the incredible people who have been part of this journey.
A huge thank you to every Ambassador, volunteer, and supporter who has stood behind the Cambridge Children’s Hospital campaign. Together we are building a hospital for the region and for every child who will receive care there.
Dame Mary Archer DBE - Co-Chair, Cambridge Children’s Hospital Campaign Board
With research a core aspect of our project, we are thrilled that Professor Isobel Heyman, Co-Lead for Mental Health for Cambridge Children's Hospital, has chosen to celebrate the ‘Lucy Booth’ trial as her highlight of 2025. The mental health drop-in services for children in paediatric settings around England has shown significant reductions in emotional and behavioural difficulties and improved quality of life, with the cost of treatment reduced by half. You can read about the trial here.
I’m so excited we’re going to be fully integrating physical and mental health in the hospital and this year - 2025 – has been a real breakthrough in that we’ve shown in some research that if you bring mental health care into the clinics of children with physical health needs we can really make a difference. We’re delighted that work has been published.
Professor Isobel Heyman, Co-Lead for Mental Health for Cambridge Children's Hospital
This year saw the launch of the Frontrunners programme, where staff worked on exciting projects to make meaningful change in their current services, whilst setting the scene for the future. The programme is led by Kelsey Graber, Senior Project for the Cambridge Children's Hospital project. Kelsey shares why the programme has been so special:
“This year we launched the CCH Frontrunners Programme, bringing together 18 staff from Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) and Cambridgeshire Community Services (CCS), to lead innovative transformation projects that improve today’s services while shaping tomorrow’s models of care for Cambridge Children’s Hospital.
Cambridge Children's Hospital Frontrunners programme launches
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtYfj1mq0P0
Frontrunners creates a powerful network of champions driving meaningful change from within our trusts and region.
Kelsey Graber, Senior Project Manager, Cambridge Children's Hospital
Kelsey said: "Their projects ranged from redesigning surgical pathways across the East of England, to developing new digital tools for ADHD care and MRI coordination, to improving how children and families access research opportunities."
We look forward to welcoming our new recruits in January. You can read more about our Frontrunners programme here.
Hannah Wysocki from our campaign partner Head to Toe Charity said her best moment of 2025 was planting daffodils along the new Cambridge Children's Hospital site. In Spring, a burst of bright colour brought joy to all who passed by!
One thing we’ve been particularly proud of this year is planting daffodil bulbs all around the Cambridge Children’s Hospital. It was so nice to have members of the community, volunteers and members of the project coming together to brighten up the site of our new hospital.
Hannah Wysocki, Head of Charity, Head to Toe Charity (campaign charity partner)
It has been an exciting year for the hospital site development, and we'd like to thank you for your continued support for the Cambridge Children's Hospital project. Here's to an exciting 2026!