Future healthcare staff have already been showing their caring side after donating toys for Wolverhampton and Walsall children in hospital over Christmas.

Health T Level students at Walsall College have donated around 20 gift boxes filled with toys and games for children at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton and Walsall’s Manor Hospital.

The Health T Level (equivalent to three A levels) at Walsall College offers work placements at New Cross, Cannock, West Park or Walsall Manor Hospitals, where learners can be placed on various wards and in departments.

A donation bank was set up in the college’s main atrium, where students from all courses and college staff were able to donate toys. This was open for two weeks.

Items donated included toys for all ages – from helicopters to teddy bears and dolls.

Emma Lester, Play Lead at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Thank you all for your generosity. The children will be very grateful for the gifts – I’m sure it will make things that little bit easier over the Christmas period. On behalf of the Children’s Ward, we hope you have a lovely Christmas.”

Taylor Williams, 16, hopes to study Paediatric Nursing in the future.

She said: “As a class we wanted to get involved with a charity and do something that would benefit our local communities.

“We imagined the children in hospital and how unsettling it might be, so we wanted to bring some joy with a few gifts this Christmas.”

Dania Downey, 17, said: “It feels really nice to be able to do something like this for the children. We hope it will make a difference.”

Dania is still exploring which area of healthcare she likes best, while classmate Lily Green, 16, likes the idea of working in elderly care.

Lily said: “Some kids are so poorly that they’re in hospital a lot, and it’s not the same as being at home, but hopefully this helps the ward to feel more homely.

“We hope this donation helps the parents as well, as they’ve got the stress of their child being ill, but hopefully it helps them to see their child having some fun.”

Neelam Pallen, Walsall College lecturer, said: “Having settled into their industry placements, our students were eager to give back to the Trusts by spreading festive cheer.

“They were pleased to present staff with Christmas gifts boxes filled with treats, activities and games for the Children’s Ward patients to enjoy during their hospital stay.

“Their generosity and compassion are testament to the outstanding healthcare professionals they aspire to become.”

Georgie Westley, Fundraising Manager at Walsall Healthcare, said: “Thanks to everyone involved in the toy and gift donation, it will certainly make a difference to the young children in our care over the festive period.

“Thanks for all the support you to give to our Trust through your roles as students.”