Christmas Week of Giving | Swansea City players spread Christmas cheer at Morriston Hospital

Swansea City men’s players Joe Allen, Harry Darling and Jerry Yates, women’s players Jess Williams, Stacey John-Davis, and Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, and club ambassador Lee Trundle, paid a visit to the patients on the children’s ward at Morriston Hospital as they marked the start of the club's Christmas Week of Giving.

The visit from the group put a lot of smiles on faces of the young patients, who have had to spend some of the festive period in hospital.

The group delivered festive Christmas toys, donated by the club, as well as selection boxes - which were purchased by the players as part of a wider donation that included refurnishing the hospital's quiet room.

The quiet room is used by children with learning difficulties and mental health struggles, and also provides respite for parents and families with very sick children.

The room itself needed a revamp, and so the Swans men’s team purchased a sofa, two arm chairs, a table, lamps and cushions, while also providing colouring books, games, toys and a sensory light for children with sensory needs.

It’s a donation which means a lot to the staff at the hospital, who understand how important a homely space can be for those spending time in hospital.

“The club has also been very generous in donating items for our quiet room, which we are really appreciative of,” explained paediatric ward matron Sarah James.

“Being in a hospital environment can be quite daunting, but the quiet room takes you away from that.

“We use it for children and young people with emotional challenges and also parents and families with very sick or bereaved children, so it’s a very important area.

“The items donated by the Swans have helped us give the room a refurb and new look.

“We installed everything ahead of their visit, so the players were able to spend time in the room and understand how it helps our service.”

With the leftover funds, the players also purchased a PlayStation 5 to replace the PlayStation 3 the hospital had in its playroom – an addition which went down particularly well with the long-term young patients.

“We are so grateful to the Swans for coming to visit our young patients,” Sarah added.

“No child wants to be in hospital, particularly at this time of year, but it gave them a massive boost seeing their favourite Swansea City players. The smiles on their faces said it all.

“The players were so generous with their time and were a credit to the club in the way they interacted with the children.”

Midfielder Allen has taken part of in a number of visits to the hospital across his two spells at the club, and was delighted that the players were allowed back following a break in visits due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Spending time with the children in Morriston Hospital was a special visit for us as a club,” he said.

“Due to Covid, it has not been possible to visit for the last few years, so it was even more important this year for us to meet children who are currently in hospital.

“We understand how much of a lift it can give kids who are spending time in hospital in the build up to Christmas. Spending some time with them and putting big smiles on their faces is the least we can do.

“The hospital and their services do an incredible job, and it was very rewarding for us to meet and chat to staff.

“We wanted to do something more than the visit, and that’s why we donated items to help refurbish the quiet room.

“We spent time in there and staff kindly explained to us the benefits it will bring and how it will help patients and families.

“That’s what it’s all about. As a football club, we pride ourselves on our community and it’s hugely important that we help out as much as we can.”

Swans Women midfielder Sophie Brisland-Hancocks added: “We are so privileged to be in the position we are, and to able to give back to the community is such an important part of what makes this football club special.

“It's not nice to think of children spending Christmas in hospital, but hopefully our visit put a smile on some of their faces.

“The PS5 looked like it was going to be popular, but you could also tell what the newly-decorated quiet room meant to the staff.

"It’s amazing that the club has contributed to something you know will have long-term benefits for families and patients at the children's ward."