SE Controls has a proud history of raising money for worthwhile causes, particularly for organisations that have supported our colleagues or their families. This year, we are honoured to support Birmingham Children’s Hospital as our chosen charity.
With over 160 years of service, Birmingham Children’s Hospital is the UK’s leading specialist paediatric centre. It provides expert care for children and young people up to the age of 16 and is recognised globally for its advanced treatments, complex surgical procedures, and pioneering research.
Two of our colleagues, Michael Baxter and Nadine Steele, have powerful personal stories about how Birmingham Children’s Hospital has supported their families.
Michael’s Story:
“My daughter Bluebell is 4.5 years old. At our 12-week scan, we discovered she had a condition called exomphalos—a rare and life-threatening condition. Our local hospital told us there was less than a 10% chance she would survive past her first day. Even if she did, the associated complications could severely limit her life.
We were incredibly fortunate to live just 30 minutes from Birmingham Children’s Hospital, a global leader in treating this condition. What they achieved with Bluebell was nothing short of miraculous. She spent nearly a year in the hospital and overcame sepsis, cardiac arrest, four surgeries, and pneumonia—all before her first birthday.
But what stood out most was the care beyond the medicine—the nurses who read to her and sang songs, the playworkers who made sure she could laugh and play. They created a positive, nurturing environment that helped her thrive.
Today, Bluebell has made a full medical recovery. She’s now in nursery and will start school this September, just like any other 4-year-old.
I can’t speak highly enough of the hospital—and I’m also deeply grateful to SE Controls for the incredible support they gave me during that time. Supporting this charity feels like a meaningful way to give back.”
Nadine’s Story:
“At my 20 week scan we found out that Amelia was going to be born with a bilateral cleft and cleft palate. Immediately after the diagnosis, we referred to the specialist cleft team at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Over the last 15 years, Amelia has had five surgeries, along with regular treatments to help with various issues caused by her cleft. Some of her treatments include lip and palate pairs, Alveolar bone graft, speech and language therapy, orthodontics, and that's just a few, with jaw realignment & lip revision surgeries to follow once she stops growing.
The staff at the hospital do all they can to offer a warm and welcoming environment to all the families. They have an amazing play and stay team, which is where all the children go on the day of their surgeries here. They try to create a calm, reassuring environment and ensure that children stay relaxed, as this can be a quite a nervous time for the youngsters.
Within the various clinics, outpatients and wards, there's always a selection of toys, games and books to keep children occupied along with play workers who help keep children occupied during what can sometimes be an extended stay, so any donations that we might raise will really help fund these resources.”
We have some exciting fundraising activities planned throughout the year, including:
- Matching tattoos
- A bake sale
- Bike rides
- A charity golf day
- A padel tournament
And many more to come!
Help us bring hope and healing to young lives at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Every donation makes a difference. Bring smiles to brave little faces