Meet the team behind the magic
Our Fairies are crucial to the running of our charity. As well as sewing garments they use their skills and knowledge gained from years in the wider world. They work together to ensure that every garment sent to children and their families is made to the exact specification and high standard.
Pyjama Fairies
Sewing Fairies
These elusive Fairies from far and wide toil away tirelessly whilst children sleep. Their special skills make pyjamas and gowns to help poorly children sparkle and smile. Every item they make is sprinkled liberally with love and fairydust.
Amanda Chadwick
Founder & Trustee
Amanda lives in Manchester with her 3 beautiful daughters. She taught herself to sew when she was pregnant with her third child. In May 2014 her third little girl arrived in perfect health but 2 days later was rushed back to hospital and it was discovered she was in heart failure.
Victoria Thompson
Head Admin & Trustee
I have been a pyjama fairy almost since the beginning. I became an Admin and Trustee in 2021. I am responsible for all the emergency orders we send out and have started our new hospice initiative. I oversee a lot of the day to day stuff and just keep fairyland ticking over nicely.
Alison Ashcroft
Parent Orders & Tech Fairy
I look after the Parent Orders placed on the website, I am also in charge of maintaining the website. I am a keen sewist and will turn my hand to anything else that I fancy doing.
Rachel Parlor
Supplies Manager
My name is Rachel and I am the fabric and label supply fairy. I live in Wolverhampton, I am a TA at a local primary school working with children with special needs. I love doing crochet, knitting and sewing in my spare time and of course spending time with my family
Gail Reid
Pattern Coordinator & Assistant Supplies Manager
Hi, I am Gail, 39 and I am from Dundee, Scotland. I am a Principal Teacher of Home Economics at a local secondary school. I joined Pyjama Fairies in December 2016 after watching a very inspirational article on BBC news. I love sewing but sewing for this charity is by far my favourite!
Rebecca Clish
Director of Quality and Safety
I came across the charity when my youngest had surgery. I Joined to give other children a smile when in hospital and it’s helped with each surgery my son has had. My love for sewing turned into a business too so I can mix my charity work with earning extra pennies.
Sue McIlroy
Admin Support & Hospital Collator
I Taught textiles, Food technology & Child Development where I was able to hone my skills whilst encouraging young people to do the same. I became a volunteer in my local hospital and joined a u3a craft group. On seeing the Pyjama Fairies article on BBC breakfast in 2016 I decided to bring my sewing machine out of retirement.
Terri Delahunty
Postage Fairy
I started as a sewing fairy in March 2017 and took on an admin role in summer 2020, checking and processing fairies’ postage refund claims. I have thoroughly enjoyed sewing for the charity and helping to make things just a little bit easier for children and their families.
Sally Matthews
Email Fairy
I spent several years working as a librarian and I earned my wings back in May 2016. As well as being a sewing fairy I help out by dealing with routine emails. I also organise an annual event now known as “Away with the Fairies” – an opportunity for sewing Fairies to get together for a day to meet each other, share their experience of sewing gowns and PJs and having some social time together.
Susie Creal
Wing Fairy & Hospital Collator
Hi my name is Susie, I attended a teacher training college in Bath, in the late 1960s, studying Home Economics Dress & Design. I finally retired from teaching in July 2018, after many happy years. I have been a Pyjama Fairy since December 2016 and I am the Wings Fairy, covering quality control and assessing all garments from new fairies before awarding wings. Alongside this I help collect and check garments for hospital orders.
Jenny Cripps
Hospital Co-Ordinator
Jenny lives in Cardiff and started volunteering with Pyjama Fairies after seeing an advert on Facebook. Having sewn for herself and children over the years she had recently retired and was looking for something to fill her time. Outside of sewing she is an archery coach and a Group Scout Leader.
Emma Mangan
Social Media and Fundraising
I first came across Pyjama Fairies when I ordered garments for my daughter. Seeing the difference having her very own garments sewn made to her hospital experience compared to previous times was huge. When the opportunity came up nearly three years ago to get involved with the charity I jumped at the chance. I love being able to spread the Pyjama Fairies sparkle.
Donate Now
Your donation, no matter how big or small, helps us fulfill our mission of helping kids feel settled in unsettling situations.
Fundraising
£4.50 pays postage for garments to be sent to a child. £10 buys supplies for a set of pyjamas. £20 buys supplies for a set of pyjamas and gown. £50 buys a roll of fabric.
Fabric Donations
We are receiving a high volume of orders so our fabric stock is very sparse. If you could help by donating 100% cotton fabric to the cause please contact us.
