Who are we?
Hope by Hand is a charity creating handmade gifts for children in hospitals, bringing comfort and joy during tough times with heartfelt gestures.
We craft paper flowers, plush toys, and personalised cards to offer moments of light and connection to young patients facing extended hospital stays.
Our initiative began as a student-led project at the University of Queensland (UQ), where a group of passionate volunteers came together with a simple belief: that small, thoughtful acts—made by hand—can make a big difference in a child’s life. We may be students, but our mission is deeply personal. With every creation, we hope to let children know they are seen, valued, and not alone.
Driven by creativity, compassion, and community spirit, we’re proud to grow a network of volunteers who contribute their time and talents to spread hope, one handmade gift at a time.
Our Mission and Vision
To bring comfort, connection, and moments of joy to children experiencing prolonged hospital stays—through handmade gifts filled with love and care.
We believe that small gestures can have a powerful impact. A handcrafted plush toy, a colourful paper flower, or a heartfelt card can make a hospital bed feel a little more like home and remind a child that someone out there is thinking of them.
What We Do
We create and deliver handmade gifts to children in the hospital who are undergoing extended treatment or recovery. These gifts include:
🌸 Paper Flowers – bright, cheerful, and long-lasting tokens of beauty for a bedside table
🧸 Plush Toys – soft companions offering comfort during lonely or difficult days
💌 Handwritten Cards – personalised notes of encouragement and love
Every item is made by a volunteer—from students and parents to artists and retirees—who donates their time and care to brighten someone else’s day.
For children in the hospital, days can be repetitive, stressful, and emotionally overwhelming. They're often away from friends, school, and the comfort of home for weeks or even months at a time. While doctors and nurses focus on their health, Hope by Hand supports their emotional well-being.
A small, handmade gift can:
Make a child smile on a tough day
Offer comfort during painful treatments.
Remind them they are not alone.
Lift the spirits of families who see the persevering support of our volunteers.
Why it matters
How We work
Our process is simple, community-based, and entirely volunteer-driven:
Volunteers create gifts from home or in group workshops. No crafting experience is required—just heart.
We collect and quality-check every donation to ensure gifts are safe, clean, and made with care.
We work with hospitals and healthcare organisations to distribute gifts to children most in need.
We fund our efforts through community donations and partnerships, helping cover materials and logistics.
Volunteer today!
Where?
University of Queensland, Great Court
When?
Volunteer workshops occur weekly at 3-5:30pm Wednesdays (by ear)