After completing the capital’s gruelling Seven Hills of Edinburgh challenge, an 11-strong team from residential developer Square & Crescent raised thousands of pounds that will go directly to the charity’s Hospital Hub.

The timely funds will support the charity’s active Hospital Hub, which is located within the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and is at its busiest time during winter months.

Entirely reliant on donations, the Hub is the hospital’s wellbeing centre, acting as a non-clinical space for children and their families to spend time away from wards, allowing them to enjoy a range of activities, events and therapies.

The donation further strengthens the link between ECHC and Square & Crescent, with the latter refurbishing large elements of Edinburgh’s former Royal Hospital for Sick Children into its Royal Meadows development and agreeing a formal partnership earlier this year.

Kate Dixon, corporate & partnerships lead at ECHC, said: “Square & Crescent’s donation comes at a really important time for ECHC. Our Hospital Hub sees the most use during the festive months, providing comforting respite for children and families during difficult hospital stays, so this extra funding is a great boost.

“Not only do we want to continue to improve the Hub’s facilities but it’s about expanding its offering past just a safe space, offering valuable activities and events so children and young people can make the best of a tricky time.

“We’re very grateful, not just for the latest funding from Square & Crescent, but for its ongoing support and collaboration with our charity.”

The team at Square & Crescent raised £8,000 by tackling the Seven Hills of Edinburgh challenge, which consists of reaching the peak and walking between seven of the famous hills in the capital - Arthurs Seat, Castle Rock, Calton Hill, Corstorphine Hill, Braid Hills, Blackford Hill and Craiglockhart Hill.

ECHC is currently fundraising for its annual Christmas appeal, which aims to bring festive fun and happiness to children and families facing potentially life-changing hospital visits this December. This includes a programme of daily activities throughout the month to make sure no one spending the season in hospital misses out on the magic. So far, children have been entertained by Santa abseiling into the building, a silent disco around the wards and a live pipe band.

ECHC’s former headquarters is one of the buildings being converted as part of the major Royal Meadows development, which will see the former hospital site transformed into a mix of luxury townhouses and apartments.

The charity was founded in the 1980s where it was based at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children site near Edinburgh’s Meadows, before the hospital’s relocation to Little France in 2021.

Euan Marshall, co-founder and joint managing director of Square & Crescent, said: “ECHC is doing incredible work so we were delighted to take on a challenge like the Seven Hills to raise vital funds.

“As we sensitively redevelop the former Royal Hospital for Sick Children into our Royal Meadows development, we feel a real connection with the charity. It brings us a lot of pride to give back in any small way we can and to be able to support the vital work they are doing for young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians.”

Square & Crescent’s Royal Meadows development is targeted for completion in 2025 and is set to launch a sales suite in early 2024.