Derbion announces children’s charity as 2025 partner

Derbion has announced Over The Wall Camp as its new charity partner for the year, as part of its ‘Derbion Cares’ initiative.

Founded in 1999, Over The Wall Camp addresses the psychosocial impact of living with long-term health conditions.

Based on the insight that more than one in 10 children in the UK can be denied a carefree childhood as a result of long-term health conditions, Over The Wall Camp empowers children and their families to explore beyond the perceived limitations of illness and rediscover the magic of childhood.

It recently secured a 40-year lease for the former Ockbrook School just outside Derby, which will become the charity’s national headquarters and the UK’s first permanent site for residential camps for seriously ill children.

The new location will allow the charity to quadruple the number of residential beneficiaries annually to over 3,000, which will include supporting thousands of local children, such as those receiving care at the Royal Derby Hospital.

As part of its Derbion Cares initiative, Derbion will provide Over The Wall Camp with support throughout the next 12 months through ongoing fundraising, free in-centre activity space, employee volunteer time, centre resources, and more.

Derbion Cares was launched in 2022 with the ongoing aim of supporting East Midlands-based charities with 12 months of fundraising and awareness activities.

Since its introduction, Derbion has partnered with five local charities: YMCA Derbyshire, RSPCA Derby & District, Safe and Sound, Children First Derby and Umbrella.

Beth McDonald, managing director at Derbion, said: “Supporting charities that make a difference to our community in the region is exactly what Derbion Cares was set up to do.

“With Over The Wall Camp set to open its new UK headquarters in Derbyshire next year, and driving nominations and work on the site to begin this year, selecting the charity as our partner of the year felt like a fantastic opportunity to open the doors to helping even more children and families in Derby and beyond.

“We’re excited that our fundraising and awareness activity for the charity throughout 2025 will enable Over The Wall Camp to reach a new level as it arrives in our city.”

Kevin Mathieson, chief executive at Over The Wall Camp, said: “Over The Wall Camp is truly delighted to be partnering with Derbion throughout 2025.

“We look forward to working closely with the centre to raise awareness and vital funds to ensure that more children with serious illnesses and their families can join our transformational camps – a safe place where they are empowered to be brave, have fun and rediscover the mischief and magic of childhood.”