Matalan is marking 13 years of partnership with Alder Hey Children’s Charity with the launch of its latest annual pyjama collection for 2026, with 100% of profits donated directly to the charity.
Since the partnership began in 2014, Matalan and its customers have raised more than £6.1 million to support life-changing care, pioneering research and family wellbeing initiatives at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
At the heart of this year’s Cared For With Love campaign are real Alder Hey children and families, each with their own experience of the hospital, from life-saving specialist treatment to ongoing care. Together, they celebrate the children and young people cared for at Alder Hey every day, bringing to life what Cared For With Love means: outstanding care for every child, alongside compassion and support for the whole family. Now in its 13th year, the partnership continues to grow, giving families across theUK the opportunity to make a difference to children, young people and families at Alder Hey.
Over the past 13 years, the partnership has continued to grow, with each year’s collection giving families across the UK an opportunity to support the work of one of the country’s leading children’s hospitals.
Launching this autumn, the 2026 collection has been designed with the whole family in mind, with pyjamas available for adults, children and babies. As with previous years, every purchase will help Alder Hey Children’s Charity support children, young peopleand their families, to create healthier, happier and fairer futures where every child and young person can achieve their full potential.
This year’s collection takes a softer, more gentle approach, featuring delicate gingham prints alongside subtle appearances of the iconic Alder Hey elephant across pyjamas,robes, T-shirts and socks. Each piece has been thoughtfully designed with comfort in mind, using soft, breathable fabrics that feels gentle on the skin and a calming colour palette. A considered departure from the bolder designs of previous collections, theunderstated gingham and signature elephant motif create a sense of calm, with the collection centred around rest, relaxation and comfort.
Funds raised through the Matalan partnership have already contributed towards transformational initiatives, including Alder Hey’s Research and Innovation Centre, alongside major appeals supporting children’s mental health and surgical neonatal care – helpingto builder healthier, happier and fairer futures for children and young people.
Ella Parkinson and her youngest daughter Millie are one of the real Alder Hey families featured in this year’s campaign. Millie was born with multiplecomplex heart conditions and underwent her first open-heart surgery at just two weeks old, followed by three further open-heart surgeries within her first six months.
Reflecting on what Alder Hey means to their family, Ella said: “Alder Hey is amazing. It became our home for a while, and they made such a difficulttime feel so special. We feel incredibly grateful and humbled to have a healthy Millie today, and we simply can’t thank the team at Alder Hey enough.”
Katherine Davis, Chief Retail Officer at Matalan, said: “We are incredibly proud to be celebrating our long-standing partnership with Alder Hey Children’s Charity for a fabulous 13th year. What began as a charity collaboration has growninto a much-loved tradition for our customers, colleagues, and the wider Alder Hey family, reaching far beyond the North West. Each year, we’re reminded of the incredible difference we can make together, and we’re delighted to support Alder Hey’s familiesand clinicians through this special partnership. This year’s collection has been designed with care and love, creating something truly special for everyone to enjoy. We think it’s our best collection yet, and we hope you do too.”
Fiona Ashcroft, CEO of Alder Hey Children’s Charity, said: “There’s always such excitementand anticipation when the new Matalan x Alder Hey PJs are revealed, and this year’s design feels really different and incredibly special.
“At the heart of the campaign are real Alder Hey families, each with their own experience of the extraordinary care, compassion and expertise at Alder Hey. By sharing theirstories, they represent so many of the children, young people and families we are here to support and are a real reminder of why this partnership is magical.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Matalan, its colleagues and customers for continuing to stand alongside us. Every item bought helps us make a lasting difference for childrenand families and brings us closer to a healthier, happier and fairer future for every child and young person”
The collection will be available online at Matalan.com and in selected Matalan stores from 12th October while stocks last. Customers are encouraged to shop early,as previous Alder Hey pyjama collections have proven incredibly popular.
