The Children’s Ward at the RUH Bath NHS Foundation Trust gratefully received some top-quality, beautifully crafted wooden toys – just in time for Christmas.

Family-run construction company, John Sisk and Son, has been making wooden toys at Christmas for over forty years. Each year, they donate all of the toys to children’s charities around the UK.

The tradition was started by founder, John G. Sisk and is now supported by a specialised training facility for apprentice carpenters and joiners, located at the Sisk Head Office in Dublin. Toys donated include a scale model articulated lorry, play kitchen, table and chairs and a work bench, including toy tools such as a spanner and screwdriver.

Mark Smith, Sisk Operations Manager, said: “Every year, our apprentices transform into elves for four or five weeks in the run-up to Christmas, creating these beautiful wooden toys. They really enjoy doing something special and different to the norm, knowing that the toys are going to good causes.

“I really enjoy delivering the toys, too – it’s great to see children enjoy playing with them, and you can see from the staff’s reactions just how much it means. It’s nice to be able to give a bit of joy at this time of year.”

RUH Play Specialist, Jo Powell, said: “Incredible! We’ve never had anything quite like this before, it’s almost like they are purpose-built for us.

“They are excellent quality and totally unique. We would like to say a huge thank you to Sisk, all their staff and especially the apprentices that made the toys – they are clearly all very talented.”

As Play Specialist, Jo’s role is to use play to welcome children to hospital and prepare them to cope with surgery or other procedures. She encourages children to keep up their usual interests, and uses specific play techniques to minimise stressful events by acting them out in advance.

The toys will be located in the Children’s Ward main play room and in certain other departments around the hospital.