The donation, made by Brookfield Retail LTD, will go towards the ‘We Care into the Future’ event hosted by DBTH.
This event is aimed at inspiring young people from across Doncaster to pursue careers in the health and care sector following education.
Ismail Patel, Director at Brookfield Group, said: “Supporting community projects such as this is at the heart of what we do. We don’t just want to be a retailer; we want to do more for the communities we serve and inspire future generations.”
“This initiative aligns perfectly with our ethos, and we are delighted to have won the Heart of the Community award through Making a Difference Locally. We look forward to seeing the event come to fruition and hearing the impact it has on attendees.”
The £5,000 donation from Brookfield Retail was awarded through Making a Difference Locally’s Heart of the Community Awards, which distributed £250,000 across small UK charities.
This donation will help fund the Trust’s “We Care into the Future” careers event, aimed at inspiring young people from across Doncaster to pursue careers in the health and care sector following education.
Building on the success of the UK’s first ‘Foundation School in Health’—a partnership between DBTH and Hall Cross Academy—the ‘We Care into the Future’ event was launched to inspire local Year 8 students (12 to 13 year olds) by showcasing the wide range of careers available within health and care.
Now in its sixth year, the event has seen remarkable growth since its 2019 debut, when 600 students participated. In 2024, more than 1,500 students from Doncaster took part, exploring 350 different career pathways across 50 interactive stalls. Following a simulated patient journey, students gained a unique, hands-on insight into real-life roles within healthcare.
The event is more than just an educational initiative—it serves as a lifeline for many young people from disadvantaged areas. With Doncaster ranking among the UK’s 55 educational “cold spots,” a staggering 32.4% of children in the area were living in relative poverty as of 2022.
Financial hardship can hinder access to opportunities, including sports clubs and school trips, that shape a child’s development and aspirations.
‘We Care into the Future’ helps to level the playing field by offering a free and accessible route to explore health and care career options, backed by DBTH and supported by local partners like Brookfield Retail.
Through this critical funding, DBTH’s Education and Research team, with additional support from strategic partners and the organisation’s charity, will continue to provide local students the chance to engage in this simulated journey, showcasing not only clinical roles such as doctors and nurses, but also the hundreds of other crucial roles that exist within the NHS—from medical engineers to healthcare administration.
Professor Sam Debbage, Director of Education and Research at DBTH, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative: “‘We Care into the Future’ is a fantastic event, offering young people an incredible opportunity to explore the diverse career paths within healthcare.
“We are so thankful for the generous support from Brookfield Retail, which allows us to continue providing this invaluable experience to students in our community.”
If you would like to support Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity, please visit their website at: https://dbthcharity.co.uk/donate-today/ you can also find out more about Brookfield Retail by visiting: https://www.thebrookfieldgroup.co.uk/