New Chair joins The Children’s Hospital Charity

The Children’s Hospital Charity is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Chair to support its fundraising efforts for Sheffield Children’s.

The Charity welcomes Jonathan McMahon to its Board of Trustees, and back to his hometown of Sheffield. Jonathan is an experienced executive and non-executive director, having held senior positions in UK and EU financial institutions. He was also previously a Trustee of National Star, a charity supporting young people with disabilities, and the St James’s Place Charitable Foundation.

Jonathan will lead the Charity’s Board as it continues to raise vital funds to help provide specialist treatment, life-saving equipment, new facilities, a comfortable environment, and pioneering research, which changes paediatric care for thousands of children from across the world.

The Board oversees the Charity’s long-term strategy, as well as contributing to, and supporting the management of the Charity, ensuring it delivers significant income for Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, in order to improve the lives of children and young people.

Jonathan said: “I’m over the moon to join such an extraordinary charity. Sheffield Children’s changes lives nationally and internationally, and the Charity’s efforts are vital to the provision of outstanding care. This frontline work is rightly recognised and celebrated. The Charity also funds world-class medical research, leading to breakthrough benefits which deserve wider recognition. The Charity is ambitious to change more lives, and I look forward to helping it realise its vision.”

John Armstrong, CEO of The Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jonathan to our team and look forward to him supporting our ambitious plans for growth. He shares the Charity’s passion for making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people, with the experience and understanding of how to continue to make this a reality.”

Jonathan takes on the role as former Chair, Paul Firth, stands down after 25 years.

John goes on to say: “We owe huge thanks to Paul Firth for being such an instrumental part of the Charity for over 25 incredible years. During his term as Chair, Paul has achieved truly extraordinary things, overseeing the charity to raise a staggering ￡50m. This has helped fund transformational projects such as the complete redevelopment of Sheffield Children’s Outpatients departments, and three new state-of-the-art wards, as well as the introduction of a brand-new helipad.

“Paul leaves a lasting legacy that will benefit thousands of children, families and staff for years to come.”

Paul said: “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to be the Chair of The Children’s Hospital Charity, and I am immensely proud of what the Charity team have achieved during this period. I know that the fundraising achieved has saved and improved the lives of countless poorly children and young people. I am sure that Jonathan and John will continue the great work of the Charity and take it to even greater heights.”

Jonathan joins The Children’s Hospital Charity at an exciting time, following the recent launch of its latest capital appeal to raise ￡2million towards the build of a new, innovative National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT). The NCCHT will be a place to develop world-leading research and build new technologies to solve the biggest challenges in children's healthcare. It will bring together children, clinicians, inventors and engineers under the same roof, with?state-of-the-art facilities for manufacturing, digital development and the opportunity to deliver Sheffield Children’s clinical care.

To find out more visit tchc.org.uk