ACT & Children's Hospices UK, the charity formed after a merger of the two charities last month, has rebranded to Together for Short Lives.

The merged charity was chosen as the beneficiary of television talent show the X Factor's charity single. The show's 16 finalists have recorded a cover of the Rose Royce classic 'Wishing on a star' which will be released at the end of November, potentially raising hundreds of thousands for the charity. 

Branding agency Spencer du Bois, which was contracted by the merged charity to deliver the rebrand, advised the X Factor deal added pressure to find the new identity as soon as possible: "Given the scale of the opportunity, the board recognised they should do their utmost to find a name and visual brand for the new organisation in time for the programme," said a spokesperson for Spencer du Bois. 

The organisation's creative director, John Spencer said: "This was an enormous challenge. We had just three weeks in which to name and brand the merged organisation. The new name encapsulates what the charity is all about - working to support children and families to make the very most of life - and recognises that they can only do this by working together with children, young people, and families and all their members and partners, with policymakers, supporters and the general public."