A new play area made from recycled McDonald’s Happy Meal toys has been unveiled outside the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
JLS star and dancing favourite Aston Merrygold was at the official launch of the playground, used by families staying at the site's Ronald McDonald House Manchester.
The Houses, of which there are 13 across the UK, provide free ‘home away from home’ accommodation, giving families the chance to remain close to their child whilst they are in hospital.
The location of the Houses means that families can be by their child's bedside in a matter of moments and maintain a degree of normality during what are often very difficult times.
Manchester's play area and a separate one in Birmingham which also opened this week, follow McDonald’s' donation of playgrounds to the four Ronald McDonald Houses in London in 2021.
Made from more than one million recycled Happy Meal toys, the playgrounds have been created especially for families staying at the Houses and feature an activity course, pyramid den, interactive wall and activity table.
Having raised over £100m for the charity since 1989 and helping many thousands of families, McDonald’s is its biggest supporter and the milestone comes as the fast food giant announced its bid to raise a further £1m this month, with customer collection boxes, digital giving channels and the fundraising efforts of employees and franchisees.
Aston, whose band shot to fame after taking the runner-up slot in the fifth series of The X Factor behind Alexandra Burke, had the opportunity to speak to families staying at the House in Manchester whose children are currently undergoing treatment, as well as the volunteers and nurses who work at the House.
He said: “It was amazing to see exactly how the donations from McDonald’s and its customers help support the families staying at the Houses. Ronald McDonald House Charities UK provide a home away from home when families need it most.
"As a parent of two myself I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it must be for these families. All the parents and guardians I met at the Manchester House couldn’t thank the team enough for the care they’ve given during such difficult moments.
"The new playground is an incredible addition to this House – it was so lovely to see the kids and their parents playing and enjoying some time together as a family.”
Available for all children staying at the Ronald McDonald Houses, as well as their hospitalised siblings who visit when they are well enough, the playgrounds provide much-needed respite for families at this difficult time.
The average family stay at a Ronald McDonald House is 17 nights, saving each family on average £1,200 per stay. With the number of nights needed being unpredictable and very much dependent on a child’s condition (the longest duration a family has spent at a house being 1,300 nights - the convenience and financial relief offered by the houses are a saviour to many in their time of need.
Jon Haward, executive director at Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, said: “Ronald McDonald House Charities UK provides free, home away from home accommodation for families who need to stay close to their child when they’re in hospital far from home.
"Customer donations via the McDonald’s App, and via the kiosks and donation boxes in restaurants, are invaluable to the running of all 13 Houses across the UK. Without this vital service, families would often have to travel hundreds of miles or stay in expensive accommodation.
"For those going through such a difficult time, Houses provide some normality, with kitchens, living areas, and now thanks to McDonald’s, playgrounds too.
"We know that both the children at the hospital and their siblings will love being outdoors and being able to play in a positive, safe environment designed especially for their needs."
Since the beginning of 2021 there has been no non-sustainable hard plastic in Happy Meal toys, removing over 3,000 tonnes of plastic from circulation moving forward.
To find out more about Ronald McDonald House Charities, visit the website here.
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