The Grand Appeal

What The Grand Appeal does

The Grand Appeal (legal: Wallace & Gromit's Children's Foundation) is a registered UK charity (no. 1043603), founded in 1994 and headquartered at 30-32 Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol. It is the dedicated fundraising charity for Bristol Children's Hospital and the St Michael's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, channelling donations into life-saving medical equipment, pioneering children's health research, free family accommodation (three houses open 365 days a year — Paul House, Grand Appeal House, Cots for Tots House), wellbeing programmes (Arts Unleashed, music and play therapy, Forest School, sensory rooms), and an in-construction Patient Hotel (Jingle Jam Building). The organisation employs 11–50 staff across five Bristol sites.

Its revenue model is multi-stream: recurring monthly giving ("Small Gifts. Big Change"), one-off online donations, event-based fundraising (ultramarathons, marathons, skydives, school reading and baking challenges), corporate partnerships (The Entertainer/Pennies micro-donations, Simpson & Partners per-EV-charger donations, Scamp & Dude and This Is Unfolded cause-marketing), grants from foundations (The Hargreaves Foundation), and retail revenue through the Gromit Unleashed Shop e-commerce storefront. Sponsorship and registration are processed via JustGiving, Enthuse, Great Run, Skyline, and the Threshold Trail Series. The charity's go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, with the Wallace & Gromit trademark licensed from Aardman Animations providing its primary brand asset and the basis for five Gromit Unleashed sculpture trails (Gromit Unleashed 3 auction raised £2,000,000). All services are non-technological; no proprietary software, AI capability, or platform product is developed.

Name

The Grand Appeal

Legal name

The Grand Appeal (Wallace & Gromit's Children's Foundation)

Website

https://grandappeal.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Grand Appeal is a UK registered charity (no. 1043603) and the dedicated fundraiser for Bristol Children's Hospital and St Michael's NICU, funding equipment, research, free family accommodation, and wellbeing programmes for over 150,000 children treated annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Hospital Charity

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH), Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Children's hospital charity
• Charitable fundraising events
• Community fundraising programmes
• Pediatric healthcare funding
• Corporate charity partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations (One-time and Monthly): The charity accepts one-off donations via its website and promotes a monthly giving programme ('Small Gifts. Big Change') where supporters set up recurring direct debit contributions to support Bristol Children's Hospital and St Michael's NICU. Monthly donors receive communications from the charity.
2. Event-based Fundraising: The charity generates funds through participants registering for and fundraising around branded events (skydives, running events, cycling challenges, Wrong Trousers Day, BIG Bake, Grand Walk, Hot Dog Dash, Gromit's Grand Read). Participants collect sponsorship via JustGiving and Enthuse platforms, with funds remitted to the charity. Some events require a registration fee (e.g., skydive £70 deposit, marathon charity places from £35–£100) with minimum fundraising pledges.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Philanthropy: Corporate partners raise funds through structured campaigns: rounding up purchases (The Entertainer/Pennies – raised £1 million over 15 years), per-sale donations (Simpson & Partners donates £1 per EV charger sold; This Is Unfolded donates 25% per sale; Mae's business donates per sale), matched giving, and direct cash donations (GKN Aerospace donated £20,000; Scamp & Dude raised £12,095). The charity also offers corporate fundraising resources and dedicated partnership engagement.
4. Retail / Gromit Unleashed Shop: The charity operates a retail shop (gromitunleashedshop.org.uk) selling Wallace & Gromit-themed merchandise including figurines, apparel, homeware, and stationery. The shop supports the Gromit Unleashed sculpture trail programme. Revenue is generated through direct consumer purchases on the e-commerce storefront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Grand Appeal is the dedicated charity for Bristol Children's Hospital and St Michael's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It raises and deploys charitable funds to provide life-saving medical equipment, free family accommodation across three houses (open 365 days a year), pioneering children's health research, and patient/family wellbeing programmes (music therapy, play therapy, Arts Unleashed, Forest School). The Patient Hotel (Jingle Jam Building) is currently under construction. Fundraising is delivered through individual donations, monthly giving, a branded events portfolio (running, cycling, skydives, school challenges, corporate quiz nights), corporate partnerships (The Entertainer/Pennies, GKN Aerospace, Scamp & Dude, Simpson & Partners), and an exclusive Wallace & Gromit sculpture trail programme (Gromit Unleashed) operated under Aardman Animations licence.

Product overview

The Grand Appeal is the dedicated charity for Bristol Children's Hospital and St Michael's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). It operates as a charitable organization offering multiple integrated services and fundraising programmes rather than a traditional software product. The core offering includes family accommodation (three houses), life-saving medical equipment funding, children's health research, and wellbeing support services (Arts Unleashed, music therapy, play therapy, Forest School). The subsidiary brand Cots for Tots focuses specifically on NICU support. Gromit Unleashed is a flagship sculpture trail initiative in partnership with Aardman Animations, generating funds through trail sculptures, merchandise, and auctions. The organization runs numerous fundraising events including running challenges (marathons, ultramarathons), skydiving, Wrong Trousers Day, BIG Bake, and corporate partnerships with retailers like The Entertainer, Scamp & Dude, and This Is Unfolded. An online shop sells Gromit Unleashed merchandise, and a Patient Hotel (Jingle Jam Building) is currently under development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cots for Tots: The Grand Appeal's dedicated programme supporting St Michael's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, providing free family accommodation and specialist care for premature and critically ill babies
• Gromit Unleashed
• Wallace & Gromit's Wrong Trousers Day
• Wallace & Gromit's BIG Bake
• Arts Unleashed
• Gromit's Grand Read
• Beat the Brain Surgeon
• Hot Dog Dash

Products and services

• Family Accommodation Service Free-of-charge accommodation service for families of children being treated at Bristol Children's Hospital and St Michael's NICU, comprising three dedicated houses operating year-round.
• Cots for Tots Programme Dedicated programme supporting St Michael's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, funding free family accommodation, specialist equipment, and support services for premature and critically ill babies and their families.
• Wellbeing Support Programme In-hospital and out-of-hospital wellbeing services including music therapy, play therapy, arts programmes (Arts Unleashed), sensory rooms, and the Forest School outdoor education programme for brain surgery recovery patients.
• Gromit Unleashed Sculpture Trail Programme Public sculpture trail initiative featuring Wallace & Gromit-themed sculptures displayed across Bristol and beyond, paired with a charity auction and associated merchandise and events.
• Gromit Unleashed Online Shop Own e-commerce storefront selling Wallace & Gromit-themed merchandise including figurines, apparel, homeware, stationery, and confectionery (e.g. Paint Your Own Feathers Figurine £25, Mini Jelly Hot Dog Sweets £3.95, official trail posters).
• Life-Saving Equipment Funding Charitable funding programme that procures advanced medical equipment for Bristol Children's Hospital to support diagnosis and treatment of young patients (e.g. 3D cardiac printing equipment).
• Research into Children's Health Research funding programme supporting groundbreaking medical research to advance children's healthcare treatments and outcomes at Bristol Children's Hospital.
• Patient Hotel (Jingle Jam Building) Charitable capital project delivering a dedicated patient hotel facility to provide accommodation and support for patients and families of Bristol Children's Hospital, currently under construction.
• Grand Appeal Skydive Tandem skydiving fundraising event at Salisbury Airfield, Wiltshire, allowing supporters to fundraise through sponsored 13,000-foot jumps via partner Skyline.
• Wallace & Gromit's Wrong Trousers Day Annual workplace and school fundraising event encouraging participants to wear non-uniform or unusual trousers to raise money for the charity under the Wallace & Gromit brand.
• Wallace & Gromit's BIG Bake Baking-themed fundraising campaign for individuals, schools, and workplaces to raise money through cake sales and baking activities.
• Gromit's Grand Read Sponsored reading challenge for schools, groups, and individuals that raises money while promoting literacy and a love of books under the Gromit brand.
• Grand Walk Sponsored walking fundraising event around Ashton Court Estate, Bristol.
• Race to the King Ultramarathon Ultramarathon fundraising challenge through the South Downs with coastal and castle routes, offered in 30km, 50km, 80km, and 100km distances.
• Race to the Stones Ultramarathon Ultramarathon fundraising challenge following ancient paths to the Avebury stone circle, offered in 50km or 100km distances.
• Hot Dog Dash Self-directed walking or running challenge in which participants trace routes past Gromit Unleashed 3 trail sculptures.
• Bath Half Marathon Charity Place Charity place in the Bath Half Marathon, a flat half marathon event in Bath, with registration fee plus minimum fundraising pledge.
• London Marathon Charity Place Charity place in the TCS London Marathon with a £100 registration fee; ballot-place runners raise as much as they can without minimum.
• London to Amsterdam Cycle Four-day, 335-mile cycling fundraising challenge through England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
• Three Peaks Challenge Multi-day hiking fundraising challenge summiting the three highest peaks in England, Scotland, and Wales.
• Beat the Brain Surgeon Corporate quiz night at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery at which teams compete against Bristol Children's Hospital neurosurgeons.
• Forest School Programme Outdoor education programme delivering sensory activities and nature-based learning at Bristol Zoo Project for brain surgery recovery patients from Sunflower and Bluebell Wards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150,000 children cared for annually at Bristol Children's Hospital through funded services
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor, flagship and core.

• GKN Aerospace (Filton Site)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025GKN Aerospace's Filton site (over 1,000 staff) donated £20,000 to The Grand Appeal in 2025 after staff chose to give up their company-funded Christmas dinner. The donation funded Christmas party activities, entertainment, Nintendo Switches for wards, FIMO and pottery workshops, harp and flute performances, visitor attraction passes for families, and treasure chests for 13 wards. The funded activities extended into 2026 with continued pottery workshops and family day out passes.
• Winterbourne Wonderland, Kidney Care UK, Almondsbury Creative, The Lodge of Unity No.7401, The Jackson FamilyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Five supporters who helped fund and facilitate Bristol Children's Hospital transplant team travel and accommodation for the British Transplant Games 2025 in Oxford. The team's 13 patients won nine medals (five golds). These organisations and individuals provided financial sponsorship enabling patient participation in the games.
• Scamp & DudemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Fashion brand Scamp & Dude ran a 'Swag Bags with Purpose' fundraising campaign benefiting Bristol Children's Hospital. Influencer and model Ruth Crilly designed a special makeup bag, and over 1,000 bags were sold, raising £12,095. The campaign funded free family accommodation, arts, music and play therapies, medical research, and innovation at the hospital. The partnership was driven by Ruth Crilly's personal connection to the hospital through a friend's son's care.
• This Is UnfoldedminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Sustainable fashion brand This Is Unfolded donates 25% of sales from its dedicated Grand Appeal kidswear collection to The Grand Appeal. Customers must purchase through a specific link on The Grand Appeal's website for the charity to receive the donation. The brand also has ethical programmes in India (teaching children to read and write, fair wage factory workers) and a zero-waste-to-landfill commitment, providing aligned brand values for The Grand Appeal's donor base.
• Simpson & PartnersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Simpson & Partners, a Cotswolds-based EV charger manufacturer founded by Mandy and David Simpson after their daughter Mae received care at Bristol Children's Hospital, donates £1 to The Grand Appeal for every EV charger sold. The couple also stayed at Grand Appeal House during Mae's five-month recovery from brain surgery and brain haemorrhage. They actively advocate for The Grand Appeal's Patient Hotel project.
• The EntertainerflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2011The Entertainer, a toy and gift retailer, has partnered with micro-donation charity Pennies since 2011 to support The Grand Appeal. At South West stores (Cornwall to Wiltshire), customers are invited to round up purchases to the nearest pound, with the difference donated. Over 15 years, this micro-donation scheme has raised £1 million for Bristol Children's Hospital. The partnership was celebrated with a giant million-pound penny display at Cabot Circus in June 2026.
• PenniescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2011Pennies is a micro-donation charity that provides the digital infrastructure enabling The Entertainer to offer customers the 'round up' option at checkout. Pennies processes the micro-donations (pennies per transaction) and remits funds to The Grand Appeal monthly. The partnership has enabled £1 million to be raised over 15 years from South West retail customers without any cost to the charity.
• Aardman AnimationsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAardman Animations, creator of Wallace & Gromit, licenses its characters to The Grand Appeal for exclusive use in fundraising. This partnership has produced five Gromit Unleashed sculpture trails in the UK and beyond, with the sculptures auctioned to raise funds. Gromit Unleashed 3's auction raised £2,000,000. The licensing agreement enables merchandise sales, branded events (Wrong Trousers Day, BIG Bake), and significant brand recognition.
• Bristol Zoo ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBristol Zoo Project's educational team leads the Forest School programme for Bristol Children's Hospital patients on Sunflower and Bluebell Wards (brain surgery recovery). Sessions take place at Bristol Zoo Project, providing outdoor and sensory experiences for children recovering from brain surgery. The programme has been running for five years, funded by The Hargreaves Foundation and The Grand Appeal's fundraisers. Bristol Zoo Project provides trained educators (Beth and Raija) who lead sensory activities, animal encounters, and nature-based learning.
• Skyline SkydivingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSkyline operates the charity skydives at Salisbury Airfield, Wiltshire, on behalf of The Grand Appeal. Skyline handles participant registration, date booking, equipment, safety, and event logistics. Participants register with The Grand Appeal and then book their jump date via Skyline's booking system. Skyline's 13,000-foot jumps generate significant fundraising income for the charity.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Children's Hospital Charity (Sheffield): Official charity of Sheffield Children's Hospital, raising funds for research, equipment, and environments. Mirrors The Grand Appeal's hospital-anchored, equity-narrative approach with similar revenue mix.
• Alder Hey Children's Charity: Charity arm of another major UK children's hospital (Alder Hey, Liverpool). Same model: dedicated hospital charity funding equipment, research, family support, and capital projects. Directly comparable footprint and fundraising mix.
• Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity: UK dedicated charity for a major children's hospital, raising funds for equipment, research, family accommodation, and wellbeing services. Closest structural peer for The Grand Appeal in mission, beneficiary profile, and donor activation model.
• Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity: Another dedicated UK children's hospital charity with comparable programmes around family accommodation, equipment, and research. Comparable event-driven, community-led GTM motion.
• Evelina London Children's Charity: Charity supporting Evelina London Children's Hospital. Operates within a larger hospital trust (Guy's & St Thomas') but functions as a dedicated children's hospital charity analogue with similar fundraising categories.

Broad incumbents

• Macmillan Cancer Support: Large national UK health charity. Not a children's hospital charity, but a benchmark for multi-channel UK health fundraising, mass-event participation, and corporate partnership scale relevant for comparison.
• Comic Relief: Nationally televised UK fundraising brand with mass-participation, event-driven and corporate activation models. Comparable GTM mechanics (Red Nose Day school/workplace participation) to Wallace & Gromit Wrong Trousers Day style activations.
• CLIC Sargent (now Young Lives vs Cancer): Major UK charity for children with cancer. Broader disease-specific remit but overlaps strongly with The Grand Appeal's paediatric oncology funding stream and family-accommodation offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheGrandAppeal
• Instagraminstagram.com/thegrandappeal
• Xx.com/thegrandappeal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grand-appeal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Grand Appeal