Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff has joined Manchester Foundation Trust Charity to call on Manchester’s business community to support the Manchester MediCinema Appeal – a £1.1m fundraising campaign to build the city’s first-ever in-hospital cinema, a state-of-the-art, fully accessible MediCinema inside Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI), benefiting patients at both MRI and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH).

Flintoff is calling on individuals and businesses across Manchester to donate, to help bring the magic of the movies to thousands of patients during some of their most challenging days.

The £1.1m Appeal will ensure the cinema is delivered at no cost to the NHS. The purpose-built facility will host around 260 screenings per year, giving thousands of patients annually – including seriously ill children – the chance to experience the comfort, connection, and distraction that only film can provide during long hospital stays. The cinema will also enable patients to create treasured memories with their families, while offering a much-needed sense of normality and respite during treatment.

The Appeal has already attracted backing from several leading companies, including

• CPase
• Glossy Magazine
• JMW Solicitors
• Kellogg’s
• Manchester Basketball
• OBI
• PG Tips
• The Savoy Cinema
• The Trafford Centre
• Village Hotels

The Charity is now encouraging more organisations to support the Appeal and help reach the £1.1m target by Christmas.

Rachel Laycock, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, said: “Manchester’s business community has always stepped up for our hospitals, and the MediCinema Appeal is a chance for companies to make a meaningful, lasting difference for our patients and families. A contribution of any size will help bring us closer to creating a unique space that will transform the hospital experience for our patients for years to come. We’re incredibly grateful to the organisations already backing the appeal and we’re calling on more businesses to get involved.”

Sophie Mundin, Company Director from The Manero Cinema Group, which includes the Savoy Cinema in Stockport, and one of the first organisations to join the Appeal, said: “We’re proud to support the Manchester MediCinema Appeal and help spread the word to our audiences. By showcasing the Appeal in our cinemas, we hope to encourage local people to get involved and help create a truly special space where patients can enjoy the magic of film, even when in hospital.”

Amy Duignan, Head of HR at Lipton & PG Tips’ Trafford Park site, said: “We’re thrilled to support the Manchester MediCinema Appeal by sponsoring the charity’s Christmas carol concert, Carols in the City. We’re proud to help make this state-of-the-art cinema a reality for Manchester patients. We hope our contribution inspires others to get involved and help create special moments for those who need it most.”

Companies across the city can support the Appeal in several ways, including:

• Corporate donations
• Employee fundraising campaigns
• Matched-funding initiatives
• Customer-facing fundraising drives
• Sharing the Appeal with staff, customers, and networks to raise awareness and encourage wider participation

Businesses interested in supporting the Appeal should contact Rachel.laycock@mft.nhs.uk or 0161 276 4522.