Our History
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity was founded in 1991, by Dame Felicity Dahl.
Her Majesty The Queen has been Royal Patron of Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity since 2017.
Her Majesty The Queen has been Royal Patron of Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity since 2017.
Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity is an independent organisation, established by Roald Dahl’s widow Dame Felicity Dahl, after the author’s death in 1991, motivated by their personal experiences of tragedy and lifelong commitment to supporting children and the medical professions, nurses in particular.
The charity has been innovating in specialist children’s nursing since 1991. The very first Roald Dahl Nurse Specialist, who was also the UK’s first-ever paediatric epilepsy specialist nurse, started in post in 1992. There are now over 200 Roald Dahl Nurses providing specialist care for thousands of families across the UK.
Our work is focused on our extraordinary Roald Dahl Nurses, and we exist to make life better for children living with complex, lifelong and often life-limiting illnesses, ensuring that every child and family we reach is treated with dignity and compassion, and has the vital care and support they desperately need and deserve.
We align and agree with the public statements made by the Roald Dahl Story Company and the Roald Dahl Museum, which unequivocally condemned the author’s antisemitic comments. Those views have no place in, or connection to, our charity. We stand firmly against all forms of racism, discrimination, and prejudice. Our focus is entirely on establishing more Roald Dahl Nurses and the children and families they support, regardless of background or belief, and our work is guided by the values of inclusivity and respect.
Please see some of the charity's key milestones below.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity creates the first ever Paediatric Nurse Specialist post in the UK.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity establishes the first ever Roald Dahl Nurse Specialist post in Scotland.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity establishes the first Roald Dahl Nurse Specialist in Wales.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity establishes the first Roald Dahl Sickle Cell Nurse Specialist.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity appoints the 50th Roald Dahl Nurse Specialist.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity launches the Marvellous Nurse Inventing Rooms in partnership with the Burdett Trust for Nursing to promote nurse-led innovation.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity establishes the first Roald Dahl Rare Disease Nurse Specialists.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity appoints the first Roald Dahl Neuro disability Nurse Specialist in Northern Ireland.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity appoints the 70th Roald Dahl Nurse Specialist.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity celebrates 30 years of specialist nursing.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity establishes the first Roald Dahl Children with Medical Complexity Nurse Specialist.
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity celebrates over 200 Roald Dahl Nurses.
Over 200 Roald Dahl Nurses care for over 40,000 seriously ill children across the UK.