Publish date: 29 May 2026
The annual NHS Big Tea returns this July, bringing people together across the country to celebrate our wonderful NHS and the people who make it what it is.
Hosting an NHS Big Tea is a great way to bring communities together around a shared love of the NHS whilst raising money to help fund projects to improve care and facilities for patients and communities across Cheshire and Merseyside.
This year is extra special for us, as we’re marking two significant milestones. In 2026, we’re celebrating 78 years of the NHS and 25 years of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust: two birthdays worth raising a cup of tea to.
We’d love you to join in the celebrations and get together for a brew and a slice of cake. You can also help us celebrate in other ways such as hosting a bake-off, a quiz or other team game – your tea party, your way!
Everyone can get involved and every cuppa makes a difference.
Save the date
While the NHS official birthday falls on July 5 (which this year is a Saturday), Big Teas can be held on any day around this date to best suit your team. The event could be for staff – or for services or wards, extending to patients and their families – it’s completely up to you! However you choose to celebrate, Mersey Cares charity will be delighted to have you on board – and will be on hand to help wherever we can.
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As well as hosting a party with your team – you can also host one outside of work with family and friends, community groups or even supporting your child’s school. The more events the better!
Raising money to support valuable projects
All funds raised through Big Teas will help Mersey Cares deliver life-enhancing projects that benefit service users, carers, patients, and their families who access our services. These funds provide vital support and often cover the “extras” beyond NHS funding—small things that can make a meaningful difference during challenging times. They also support our incredible staff, who provide such dedicated and compassionate care.
Read more about Mersey Cares work supporting people across Cheshire and Merseyside: What we've made possible :: Mersey Care Charity
Supporting your Big Tea Event
When you sign up to a Big Tea event we can provide a Big Tea party pack, containing materials such as posters, bunting and digital QR fundraising codes to support hosting your event. You’ll just have to pop the kettle on!
Show support with a donation
If you can’t host an event but want to get involved, you can show your support by taking five minutes to enjoy a tea break and making a small donation. Every donation small or big, will really help us make a difference – and get us closer to our target of £25,000 raised in 2026 I honour of Mersey Care’s 25 Birthday.
Thank you for helping us make a difference!
With over 200 sites across the Mersey Care footprint and more than 11,000 staff, this has the potential to be one amazing celebration. Every kettle boiled, cake sampled, and cookie crunched truly helps us make a difference; enabling us to do wonderful things for service users, patients, and staff across our communities.
Send us your photos!
One of the most exciting parts of the NHS Big Tea is seeing all your fantastic efforts. From ward-based get-togethers to celebrations in staff areas, we’d love to see what you’ve been up to and share it across the Trust. Please take plenty of photos and send us your comments so we can showcase and celebrate all the incredible moments you’ve created.
Grab your teapot, pop the kettle on and let's turn tea and cake into cash to help support the Mersey Care NHS Charity.
Register your Big Tea Event here: The Mersey Care NHS Charity: Host your own NHS Big Tea 2026
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