The University of Huddersfield and Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice KTP 24_25 R4

A children's hospice is bringing in business consultants to overhaul how it raises money and markets itself. The problem is straightforward but acute: Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, like many charities, has its commercial functions—marketing, fundraising, communications, analytics, and innovation—operating in separate silos. This fragmentation wastes resources and limits the income needed to sustain care for children with life-shortening conditions. The project will embed a commercially-trained specialist to integrate these activities, creating a coherent strategy and culture focused on long-term financial sustainability. If successful, the hospice will generate more reliable income streams without relying on ad-hoc campaigns. The approach could serve as a replicable model for other small-to-medium charities facing similar pressures. This is not fundamental science; it is applied organisational change. The impact is practical: a more resilient charity that can focus on its core mission of providing palliative and respite care, rather than constantly firefighting financial instability. The work is funded through Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme, which places skilled graduates in organisations to drive innovation.