Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity has announced that a pride of lion sculptures will be taking over South Yorkshire in 2026 to celebrate 150 years of Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
The ‘Pride of Yorkshire’ Sculpture Trail is the charity’s most ambitious fundraising campaign yet and will raise vital funds to support the hospital’s next chapter of life-changing care.
Building on the success of Bears of Sheffield, this new free trail will feature 150 large lion and lioness sculptures, and 150 smaller lion cub sculptures. They will be
positioned across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, each telling a unique story and designed by professional artists and community groups.
Cheryl Davidson, Head of Community and Events and Pride of Yorkshire Project Lead, Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We want this to be our biggest and most impactful campaign yet, uniting the region in support of a cause that touches so many lives. The beauty of this campaign is that everyone can play a part. Whether it’s a company stepping forward as a sponsor, a school embracing the fundraising challenge, or a family exploring the trail. Together, we can make this a movement that has a lasting impact on children’s healthcare.”
Artist Tom Newell, who worked on our previous sculpture trails, is the launch artist. He said: “I’ve been honoured to be involved in all the sculptures so far, from the elephant to the bear. My past two designs were monochrome black and white, so I really wanted it to be the opposite of that. This one’s really colourful. The mane of the lion is hundreds of different angles, so I spent four days on that. It was a real patience-test!”
Key dates:
● 11 June 2025 – Public launch of Pride of Yorkshire
● 8th June – 7th September 2026 – The lions take to the streets of South Yorkshire
● October 2026 – Lions Farewell & Auction at Meadowhall
How to get involved:
● Businesses: Sponsor a lion and be part of this landmark event
● Artists: Apply to transform a lion into a work of art
● Schools & Community Groups: Adopt a lion cub and fundraise for Sheffield Children’s
● Families & the Public: Follow the trail and fundraise to help shape the future of children’s healthcare
For more details on how to get involved, visit prideofyorkshire.org
