From supporting sick children and their families to helping people experiencing homelessness, our 2026 Spare an Hour Campaign has been a celebration of generosity, kindness and the power of giving back.
At 3Q Recruitment, we have always believed that making a difference starts with people. For over 15 years, our Spare an Hour Campaign (SAHC) has brought our office team and temporary employees together to support charities doing incredible work in communities across Ireland.
This year was no exception. We were delighted to welcome Marionela Mocanu from Children’s Health Foundation to our Dublin office for a special cheque presentation.
Our office team generously raised €1,009, which 3Q Recruitment proudly matched, bringing our donation to Children’s Health Foundation to €2,018.
We also recognised our two runner-up charities, Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation and Focus Ireland, with a donation of €500 each.
While the fundraising was something to celebrate, the stories shared during Marionela’s visit truly reminded us why our Spare an Hour Campaign matters.
300,000 Children, Thousands of Families and One Shared Purpose
During her visit, Marionela spoke passionately about the work of Children’s Health Foundation and the difference donations make to children, families and hospital teams.
One figure that really stayed with us was the 300,000 children and young people Marionela told us had been supported through children’s hospital services in 2025.
She explained how fundraising helps hospitals access important medical equipment and resources, supporting healthcare professionals in providing the care children need.
However, some of the most memorable stories weren’t about expensive medical equipment. They were about the thoughtful, practical gestures that make life a little easier for families facing incredibly difficult circumstances.
Marionela told us about Top Oil providing fuel cards for parents who must travel to be with their children in hospital. Something as simple as help with fuel costs can ease a financial burden at a time when families already have so much to worry about.
We also learned about workshops supporting the siblings of sick children. When a child is seriously ill, the whole family is affected. Brothers and sisters can experience worry, uncertainty and changes to everyday family life. These workshops help ensure they feel included, supported and understood.
And then there was a story that brought a smile to everyone’s face.
Marionela shared how Primark helps provide Late Late Toy Show pyjamas for children spending that special night in hospital. For children who cannot be at home enjoying the excitement with their families, these small gestures help bring a little of the Toy Show magic into the hospital.
It was a lovely reminder that supporting children’s healthcare isn’t only about treatment. It’s also about creating moments of comfort, happiness and normality when they are needed most.
Learning Something New: Angelman Syndrome
One of the most thought-provoking parts of our afternoon was hearing Marionela speak about Angelman syndrome and a new project supported by Children’s Health Foundation.
Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects the nervous system and can cause significant developmental challenges, including difficulties with speech, movement and balance, and seizures.
What surprised us was that almost nobody in our office had heard of the condition before. The exception was Jade Daly, who recognised it through actor Colin Farrell, whose son James has Angelman syndrome and whose family’s experiences he has spoken about publicly.
It sparked an interesting conversation among our team about rare conditions, the challenges families face and the importance of raising awareness. We work in healthcare recruitment every day, yet this was an opportunity to learn about an area of children’s health that many of us knew very little about.
It reminded us that we never stop learning, and sometimes simply having a conversation can help spread awareness and understanding.
A Special Guest from CHI Temple Street
We were especially pleased to have Susan, one of our valued temporary employees working in the Emergency Department at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), join us for the cheque presentation.
Susan is part of the team supporting the day-to-day running of one of Ireland’s busiest children’s hospitals, and we were delighted she could represent our temporary workforce on the day.
What made her visit particularly special was that, despite working in CHI Temple Street, Susan told us she had learned so much more about Children’s Health Foundation and the many initiatives it supports.
It was a wonderful moment.
Here was someone who works in a children’s hospital, learning about the additional support happening behind the scenes to make life better for patients and their families. For us, it reinforced the importance of sharing these stories, not only with our own team but with our wider community.
We are incredibly proud of Susan and all our temporary employees who contribute to healthcare services across Ireland. Having her with us helped connect our fundraising efforts with the people and services we support every day.
A Little Fun Along the Way: Congratulations, Azizat!
Our Spare an Hour Campaign has always been about bringing people together, and we believe fundraising should be enjoyable too.
This year, everyone who donated to the campaign was automatically included in our Spin the Wheel competition, with a One4All voucher as the prize. We were delighted when the wheel landed on Azizat, one of our wonderful temporary employees!
A huge congratulations to Azizat on her win.
It was a lovely way to celebrate the generosity of everyone who took part. Whether someone donated a little or a lot, every contribution was appreciated and everyone had an equal opportunity to win.
That’s what makes the Spare an Hour Campaign so special. It’s not just an office initiative; it’s something our entire 3Q community can be part of.
Supporting Three Wonderful Irish Charities
While Children’s Health Foundation was our selected charity this year, we also wanted to recognise the two other fantastic organisations that were runners-up in our charity selection process.
We were delighted to present €500 to The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and €500 to Focus Ireland.
Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation provides vital in-home nursing care and support to families caring for children with complex medical needs. Its work helps families spend precious time together at home while accessing much-needed care and respite.
Focus Ireland works tirelessly to support people experiencing homelessness and those at risk of losing their homes, helping individuals and families access the services and support they need.
Both organisations do extraordinary work, and we were proud to extend our support to them.
With €2,018 presented to Children’s Health Foundation and a further €1,000 shared between Jack & Jill and Focus Ireland, our charitable contributions totalled €3,018 across three deserving Irish charities.
Every one of these organisations reflects something close to our hearts at 3Q Recruitment: caring for people, supporting families and helping individuals through challenging times.
More Than a Cheque Presentation
What stood out most from Marionela’s visit was the genuine interest and engagement from our team.
We asked questions, shared experiences, learned about conditions we hadn’t previously encountered and gained a much greater appreciation for the work happening behind the scenes in children’s healthcare. It would have been easy to simply present the cheque, take a photograph and say thank you.
Instead, we came away with stories we will remember and share.
We learned that a fuel card can help a parent spend more time with their sick child. That a workshop can help a brother or sister feel less alone. That a pair of Toy Show pyjamas can bring a moment of joy to a hospital ward. And that awareness of a rare condition can begin with one conversation.
These are the human stories behind fundraising, and they are why initiatives like our Spare an Hour Campaign are so important.
Putting People First Is What We Do
For more than 27 years, 3Q Recruitment Ltd. has built its reputation around Putting People First.
That commitment extends far beyond finding the right people for the right jobs. It means valuing our temporary employees, supporting our clients, looking after our colleagues and giving back to the communities we are part of.
Our Spare an Hour Campaign is one of the ways we bring that commitment to life.
We are incredibly grateful to our office team for raising €1,009, to 3Q Recruitment for matching that amount, and to every temporary employee who got involved and supported this year’s campaign.
A special congratulations again to Azizat on winning our Spin the Wheel competition, and a heartfelt thank you to Susan for joining us on such an important occasion.
Finally, our sincere thanks to Marionela Mocanu and everyone at Children’s Health Foundation for taking the time to visit us, share their knowledge and show us the real impact donations can have.
We are proud to have supported Children’s Health Foundation, Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation and Focus Ireland through this year’s campaign.
Because when people come together, even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting difference.
Putting People First. Always.
