Inside this issue we focus on
Little things that make a difference
NEWSLETTER 2018
We get and sp to relax end time to quality gether .
Inside... Page 2 An emotional reunion for Matthew Page 4 Fantastic community fundraising Page 5 CHSW go greener, step by step Page 6 Support CHSW as you shop online! Page 7 Fantastic community fundraising Page 8 Farmer Patch’s legacy for families Page 9 Corporate fundraising Page 10 Little things that make a difference Page 12 Supporting your local charity shop Page 13 Fantastic community fundraising Page 14 Our volunteers are our stars Page 15 Take part in a CHSW event Page 16 Bowled over by cricketing support Page 17 Changes at Little Bridge House Page 18 Amazing grants and special events Page 19 What do you think of when you imagine our hospices? Page 20 A regular donation can add up to a big difference
A very warm welcome to our newsletter Firstly, thank you for continuing to receive our newsletters!
The biggest thing CHSW has given us is the ability to be a parent. Our daily life is consumed with suctioning, medications, catheterising, repositioning, worry he will not come out of the next big seizure. The time we spend at the children’s hospice enables us to be a family, a mummy and daddy to all three of our children. No schedule, no equipment. We can't thank CHSW enough, they are an integral part of our family life and we look forward to each and every visit. Willingham family, Little Harbour
How lucky we all felt to have a summer where we basked in weeks of sunshine, which allowed for hours of fun for the children and families who stayed with us, as they enjoyed the beautiful grounds of our hospices - doesn’t the sunshine make us all feel so much happier? I am pleased to report a very healthy first half of the year, with continued enthusiasm as we approach the change in seasons, endeavouring to be the best at what we do in an ever-challenging environment. In this edition of our newsletter we aim to share how the little things make a big difference. The quotes and feedback from our families bring this to life and demonstrate that what we offer is so much more than specialist care; it’s about how we dissolve their day-to-day stresses and shower them with the things which we can take for granted, like a good night’s sleep, eating dinner while it’s warm and sitting down with a book. The wonderful weather also helped to make our summer events a huge success, with high attendance and, unusually, no need for a wet weather contingency plan. What a refreshing change! Packed inside is news
of fantastic community support, the great fundraising efforts of our corporate partners and amazing people who have raised and continue to raise funds for children and families who they will probably never meet. How very humbling and I hope they are all very proud of themselves, as they help us to make the most of short and precious lives. A heartfelt thank you to the families who have contributed to this edition and my enormous gratitude to all those who have made our journey possible. We couldn’t be here without you. With my very best wishes,
Eddie Farwell MBE Co-Founder and Chief Executive
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An emotional reunion for Matthew at Little Bridge House Matt Pearson knows first hand how important CHSW’s sibling service is. Now 28, Matt first visited Little Bridge House with his family 16 years ago. Matt’s brother, Darrell, had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare and degenerative disease, for which there is no cure. Matt and Darrell visited Little Bridge House together for more than five years, until Darrell became too unwell to travel from Bristol, before he died aged 16 in early 2008.
Matt explains why the visits to Little Bridge House were so important to him: “Our family’s experience of Little Bridge House was always positive. The team was really accommodating and, as we had our own rooms, it always felt like a little holiday for us. I remember some really good weekends there. The Sibling Team were just brilliant and arranged lots of fun things for us to do, so it was a real chance to escape reality for a while. Living in a village, Darrell was the only boy at school in a wheelchair and although I had good friends, none of them really understood or could relate to the situation fully.
It alwa ys f li ke a li elt t holiday tle for us.
Being able to talk to other brothers and sisters who knew exactly what it was like having a sibling with a life-limiting condition was so helpful, and really helped me to understand it all, as we had a common purpose. The Siblings’ Weekends that I attended were a real highlight for us all and we quickly became friends. Little Bridge House gave our family a wider support network and the building and its care had a great impact on me, which has remained to this day.”
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Little Bridge House gave our family a wider support network and the building and its care had a great impact on me, which has remained to this day.
Now married, with a young son of his own, Matt was keen for his wife and son to visit Little Bridge House, and he contacted the hospice to see if he could visit on the 10th anniversary of Darrell’s death. It was an emotional reunion, with many of the staff remaining from previous visits years ago. Matt was delighted to see that much was the same as he remembered: the games room, Narnia sensory garden and the big dining table; whilst areas such as the arts and crafts room, soft play and hydrotherapy pool had all been upgraded.
It was a real chahis nce to escap e reality for a whil e.
Matt continued: “Our visits to Little Bridge House many years ago were always something we as a family looked forward to, and they remain an important part of my family history. I wanted my new family to see what my family holidays were like growing up and to see the place which meant so much to us and Darrell. The care and support that CHSW provided to both myself and my family has always been extremely high and I thank the entire team for making the latest trip possible, it meant a lot!”
Being able to talk to other brothers and sisters who knew exactly what it was like having a sibling with a life-limiting condition was so helpful, and really helped me to understand it, we had a common purpose.
Children’s Hospice South West is dedicated to making the most of short and precious lives. The care we offer is not limited to medical and nursing support, but also aims to enrich the lives of children and their whole families. Nowhere is this more apparent than in our dedicated provision for siblings, which offers care, support and entertainment for well brothers and sisters. It can be hard being the sibling of a child with a life-limiting condition. There are often times when parents have to concentrate their efforts on one child much more than the other, and school friends may not understand how everyday family life can be different. To learn more about our sibling care visit www.chsw.org.uk/sibling Page 03
Fantastic fundraising in the community Veterans walk in support of Alfie Veterans Chris Blick from Stroud and Pete Johnson from Plymouth took on a 62 mile walk from Par in Cornwall to the Erme River in Devon, in support of CHSW. Pete’s great-nephew Alfie and his family are supported by our Little Harbour hospice. Former chief news correspondent Kate Adie presented them with a cheque for their amazing fundraising at National Sailing Academy. Thank you to them both for raising £3,000 and to all who supported their walk! to everyone
AFC St Blazey Youth’s Three Peaks Success A team of 30 parents and friends from AFC St Blazey Youth completed the Three Peaks Challenge in June and organised a Golf Day, to raise funds for CHSW. They have raised an amazing £5,693. Well done AFC St Blazey Youth, what a fantastic achievement!
Dancers raise over £3,500!
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More than 100 children and young people aged from two to 24 years took part in a dance show at the Linda Mortimore and Charlotte Smith School of Dance in Plymouth in June, raising a fantastic £3,536 for CHSW. Zoe from the school said “We can’t wait to get started on next year’s show, where once again we will be honoured to be supporting CHSW.”
It’s nic e to h someo ne to ta ave lk t u nders tood w o who were g hat we oing throug h.
CHSW going greener, step by step Plastic free events We are proud to have made these first steps to improve our green credentials and we anticipate these measures will dramatically reduce plastic waste at our events. Jayne Jarrett, Events Fundraiser Little Bridge House
Our amazing events like Bubble Rush, Rainbow Run and Santas on the Run are a great way to support CHSW, and every year we’re delighted so many of you take part! We challenged ourselves this year to look at the environmental impact of our mass participation events and were pleased to be recognised by Plastic Free North Devon for our efforts. We’ve replaced single use plastic water bottles with reusable bottles made from recycled plastic at all of our events, thanks to a kind donation from our water supplier Thirsty Work. Cable ties used to hold banners are either reusable or taken for specialist recycling, and cups made from compostable material instead of Styrofoam are used at drinks stations. Balloons and plastic flags are a thing of the past, and energy gels used by cyclists in Ride for Precious Lives were marked with the participant’s number, with fines by way of donations if wrappers were dropped on the route!
Reducing the environmental impact of our mailings We’ve taken note of the feedback received from our last newsletter sent out in a plastic wrap. We will aim to use paper envelopes for our future mailings wherever possible. Our friends at Plastic Free North Devon have assured us envelopes with a clear window can still be recycled as part of normal household recycling collections.
Other small steps to a greener CHSW At each of our hospices and in our shops, staff and volunteers are encouraged to think green, with suggestions including car sharing or cycling to work; reusing and recycling wherever possible; and reducing the amount we print by using email rather than letter if appropriate. Each of our hospices has a Green Champion, who helps to promote ideas which will reduce our impact on the environment. Page 05
Support CHSW as you shop online! More and more of us are turning to online stores as the most convenient way of shopping without having to face the queues at the shop tills. Now you can help to raise money for CHSW whilst shopping in the comfort of your own home!
CHSW is now an AmazonSmile charity so your Amazon shopping can help support our work too! AmazonSmile is operated by Amazon with the same products, prices and shopping features. Your shopping experience stays the same and doesn’t cost you any extra, but every time you shop with AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the cost to your chosen charity. Millions of products are eligible for donations, and you’ll see this marked on the product pages.
You can shop online with over 300 retailers, including John Lewis, Argos, Currys, Expedia, M&S, Boden, Waitrose and many more; they will give a donation every time you buy something. It’s free to use and your donation won’t cost you a penny extra!
You only need to nominate your chosen charity once and it’s easy to get started: simply visit www.chsw.org.uk/amazonsmile
On average, each retailer donates 5% of the value of your shop, and those donations soon add up. Simply sign up with easyfundraising for free. Every time you shop online, head to easyfundraising first and find the shop you want; the retailer will then make a donation to us after you’ve checked out.
Fi nd out more wa ys to support CHSW w hile you shop online:
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See how easy it really is by visiting www.chsw.org.uk/easyfundraising
w w w.chsw.org.u
k/shoponline
Fantastic fundraising in the community
Can you help us in the local community? There are lots of different ways you could help CHSW in your local area. Could you give talks on our behalf at events or community groups? Would you like to join one of our wonderful Friends Groups? Could you host your own event or fundraising challenge?
Bonnie and Dalton’s amazing cake sale
Lighting up Kingsbridge for Christmas
A massive thank you to Bonnie Hendrick aged nine and her younger brother Dalton, who baked cakes to sell at a local church service. They raised a fantastic £121, which they donated to CHSW and WaterAid. The leftover cakes were given to a nearby homeless shelter. What a wonderful way to help three very deserving causes.
Michael Langman is a long term supporter of CHSW and every December he lights up his house in Kingsbridge with an amazing display of Christmas lights in aid of CHSW. Visitors come from far and wide to see his famous festive illuminations, and since 2010, he has raised more than £28,000!
There are lots of ideas on our website at www.chsw.org.uk/supportus, or email enquiries@chsw.org.uk
to everyone
Ou r s o n loves find ing other s ibli ngs to ru n off and mischie make f with
The sky’s no limit for Ray and Arthur! Two fearless supporters Ray Hales and Arthur Bennett proved that age really knows no limits when they took on a Skydive in May. Ray, aged 90, and Arthur, 86, raised over £10,000 for CHSW, and Community Fundraiser Josh Allan said “We are all absolutely in awe of them. Skydiving is no mean feat at any age, and we cannot thank them enough for taking on this incredible challenge!” Page 07
Farmer Patch’s legacy for families Graham Patch, who sadly died earlier this year aged 71, very kindly chose to leave a gift to Children’s Hospice South West, of more than £50,000 in his Will. Graham lived in Yatton, North Somerset, but grew up in Felton in Bristol where he loved to visit the local farm. In fact, he spent so much time on the farm he became known as ‘Farmer Patch’! Graham lived life to the full and travelled the world with his Rambling Group. He was also a keen quizzer and went to every quiz possible. His family say he was a generous man with a very sensitive side. His sister Audrey told us he chose to remember CHSW in his Will because he admired the work we do. Audrey, along with her daughters Lyn and Maxine, visited Charlton Farm, near to where Graham lived, to see the hospice for themselves. Audrey commented:
It was a wonderful visit. The facilities for the children and families are fantastic, it is a very special place. We know Graham’s donation will help CHSW to keep supporting local families.
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A gift in your Will Remembering Children’s Hospice South West in a Will is one way in which people are able to show their support for us into the future. Legacies, of whatever size, are vital, as they enable us to make plans for the years ahead, to improve our current services, develop new ones and find more ways to make the most of short and precious lives. For more information about leaving a gift in your Will, please contact our Legacy and Remembrance Officer, Rob Emery on 01271 325 270 or email wills@chsw.org.uk
Fundraising with our corporate partners Sainsbury’s Charity of the Year We are thrilled to have been chosen as the Charity of the Year in 10 Sainsbury’s branches across the South West, including stores in Plymouth, Barnstaple, Exeter and Bristol. We are really looking forward to working with all the stores and seeing what exciting fundraising ideas they have for the next year! Pictured are Alison Dann and Andy Howell from the Ebrington Street and Mutley Plain branches in Plymouth, who are really keen to come and visit Little Harbour on our Open Day. Thank you to everyone who voted for CHSW at Sainsbury’s stores across the South West.
Geoff and Steve’s big cycle challenge We are delighted to be RGB Building Supplies chosen charity across their 19 branches in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. In May, Geoff Harry and Steve Dyer representing the Porthleven branch swapped hard hats for cycle helmets for a very special birthday challenge.
Persimmon Homes Severn Valley Persimmon Homes Severn Valley chose to support Children’s Hospice South West as their Charity of the Year. Rob Berry embraced this and rallied the troops to get everyone involved in 2018! From 10k runs and half marathons to multiday cycle events, the team have raised over £10,025 and counting! Events so far include Ashton Court Mo Run, Kelston 10k, Avon Trail 10k, Tour de Gwent cycle sportive, London to Paris cycle challenge, Two Tunnels Half Marathon Bath, Bristol 10k, Ride for Precious Lives and Wales in a Day with more planned for later in the year! Thank you so much for your incredible support.
To mark Geoff’s 60th and Steve’s 50th, they cycled a mammoth 1,000 miles, starting at John O’Groats and arriving at Land’s End 16 days later. Pictured outside Little Harbour, Geoff and Steve raised over £4,500 for CHSW. We hope they enjoyed their birthdays!
To find out more about Charity of the Year visit www.chsw.org.uk/charityoftheyear
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The little things that make a difference For more than 25 years, Children’s Hospice South West has been providing care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families across the South West. We don’t just focus on medical and nursing care; we aim to enrich the lives of the children and families who stay with us, helping them to make the most of every moment. Our Care Team recognise and appreciate how much the little things can make a big difference: Being in these beautiful surroundings with familiar staff, in whom they have faith, trust, professional friendships enables families to simply concentrate on being a family; reading favourite stories, listening to special songs, enjoying cuddles, and having home cooked food prepared for them. Jess from Charlton Farm Care Team
I really enjoy being able to support the parents. Sometimes just taking the time to chat over a cuppa makes all the difference to them, and it reminds me what challenges these families face. It is humbling. Carly from Little Harbour Care Team
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To read more from our staff, simply visit www.chsw.org.uk/staffstories
Our families often tell us that it’s the little things that make their time with us so valuable, such as being able to finish a cup of tea while it’s still warm or eating a meal together as a family. Being together as a family, spending time doing all the things we are unable to do at home. No cooking and cleaning meant our weekend was stress free to enjoy all the little things in life.
I eat chocolate cupcakes, play bingo and spend time with amazing people.
The ch il bedroo dren’s ms are so homely and inviting .
I get to sleep a throug h the n ll ig for a c hange ht , and mealtim es are as a fa mily.
We took our daughter to the sensory garden, she had a beautiful reaction to hearing the chimes, a rare and beaming smile. We have been there on a summer’s evening with the breeze blowing through the trees, and on dark, cold winter afternoons all wrapped up in blankets. It’s a lovely place just to come and sit by and think.
li ke to rden, I e sky a g e h In t in th ry high e v erful g in sw e wond h t t a k y and loo ere are reall h t , w d vie ees an nice tr wers. lo lovely f
To read more from our families, visit www.chsw.org.uk/familystories
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Supporting your local charity shop adds up Over the last three months your support at Children’s Hospice South West charity shops has added up to make an incredible difference. Here are just some of the ways that shopping, donating and volunteering at your local shop have helped support the care we provide to local families at our three hospices. Find a shop near you www.chsw.org.uk/shops
1 in-store theatre performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at our Glastonbury shop, performed by ‘His & Hers’ 2 witnesses at a wedding, our shop staff at Tavistock were asked to witness a wedding, the couple then donated £100 as a thank you 10 volunteers currently taking NVQ qualifications 19 shops open on Sundays/Bank Holidays 32 shops and one eBay shop 78kg stamps sorted and sold by our eBay shop 297 items sold in our eBay shop 702 hours our shops have been open 713 volunteers helping in our shops
1,286 new Gift Aid supporters 8,074 single lottery tickets purchased 27,195 hours given by our volunteers £53,737 of Gift Aid eligible to be claimed back from the Government 53,939 bags of goods you’ve donated 186,633 times you’ve shopped with us 415,045 items have been bought by you Page 12
Countless cups of tea have been made
It all adds up to an incredible
£895,000
generated through shops in the last three months Your support helps us to continue supporting children and their families at our three very special hospices across the South West.
Fantastic fundraising in the community
Nailsea and Backwell Beer and Cider Festival
Barnacle Buoys sea shanty singers
8,000 people attended the festival this year, with a Children’s Village and Gin Tent helping to raise money for CHSW. A big thank you to the organisers for their continued support and raising £45,000 over the last 14 years.
The Barnacle Buoys is a group of a cappella sea shanty singers from North Somerset, who have collected money in all weathers since 2013, raising more than £9,000. CHSW is thrilled to continue to be one of two main charities supported by the group.
Kingswood School’s 360 Thames Ridgeway Challenge CHSW is the chosen Charity of the Year for Kingswood School in Bath. Earlier this year, teacher Luke Hopwood and friend Josh Norton completed the Questars 360 Thames Ridgeway Challenge. They cycled, ran and kayaked 240k in 24 hours, raising an amazing £900 which will be added to the school’s fundraising.
Knitted chicks Supporter Margaret Thompson, along with community groups in Keynsham, knitted and sold 2,600 chicks for to everyone CHSW. Margaret managed to source gifts in kind for crème eggs to go in the chicks. This is the second year Margaret has rallied her troops and she has now raised an incredible £6,400.
Relaxin g outsid seeing the ch e, playing ildren and having fu n.
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Our volunteers are our st rs From gardeners to cooks, office helpers to event marshals, shop helpers to bed makers, our volunteers really are stars. Some volunteer at specific events, or for a few hours per week in our offices; and others for regular mornings, afternoons or days in our shops. Volunteers touch every aspect of what we do, and we would not be able to continue our vital work without their diverse and valuable contributions. Every hour they give us adds up to an amazing contribution throughout the year. Even just a few hours taking photos at one of our events can provide us with some great images which help us promote fundraising events throughout the next year and beyond.
712 people volunteer
in our 32 shops across the South West
92 people volunteer
in care roles: housekeeping, kitchen teams, sibling teams and drivers
Could you be our next star? A little of your time goes a long way and helps us to keep raising smiles. Find out more about volunteering with CHSW at www.chsw.org.uk/volunteer
82 people volunteer
in our hospices in non-care roles: HR, facilities, fundraising, finance, legacies, reception, trusts and grants, database administration and lottery
Pat’s story Pat has been volunteering with our HR team at Little Bridge House since 2015. Her working life was devoted to young children and their families, so when she was considering volunteering, it was only natural that children would be an important factor in her decision. A tour of Little Bridge House helped her make her mind up. She says she looks forward to her weekly visits:
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Volunteering has provided a range of opportunities, and the chance to revisit old skills alongside learning new ones. I have met other volunteers at the annual tea where it’s been great to chat to others and hear about the range of voluntary tasks undertaken.
We are like human pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, joining together to support the over-arching aims of CHSW, everyone giving their time to support an inspiring organisation.
Take part in a CHSW event Three day, 205 mile cycle challenge Abseil Abseil220ft 220ftdown downEngland’s England’s highest highestwaterfall waterfall
www.chsw.org.uk/ride
www.chsw.org.uk/abseil
Run f r CHSW In various locations across the South West
www.chsw.org.uk/santas
At various races including Bath Half 2019 and more!
www.chsw.org.uk/running Your registration fee only covers the cost of your participation in the event. Your sponsorship will help support the vital work of Children’s Hospice South West, helping to raise even more smiles.
We have fundraising events throughout the year to suit everyone. For more information visit www.chsw.org.uk/events
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Bowled over by cricketing support Somerset County Cricket Club players, Marcus Trescothick and James Hildreth have both chosen to support CHSW in their successive testimonial years.
For the 10 years since my benefit year, I have been an ambassador for CHSW and I’m involved with them because what they do is just so great. I’m pleased to be involved and it’s a cause that’s close to so many people’s hearts in and around the South West. Marcus Trescothick
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Marcus Trescothick's ‘Trest imonial Bike Ride’ in aid of Children's Hospice South West
Former England opening batsman Marcus Trescothick first took on a bike ride for CHSW during his benefit year in 2008. Having recently completed his 26th season with Somerset CCC, he is now preparing for a five day cycle challenge in October, Marcus Trescothick’s ‘Trestimonial Bike Ride’. Marcus and nine friends will cycle from Keynsham Cricket Club, where he began his cricketing career, to Little Harbour in Cornwall, stopping at Charlton Farm and Little Bridge House, as well as local cricket clubs and schools. There are also limited places available to ride with Marcus; sign up for this exclusive opportunity at www.chsw.org.uk/marcus
Earlier this year Somerset batsman and occasional medium pace bowler James Hildreth presented CHSW with an £11,000 cheque from fundraising activities in his testimonial year (2017). This included a series of charity cricket matches and the epic Hildy’s Hike in October 2017 when James and a group of friends walked an incredible 130 miles from Little Bridge House in Devon to Little Harbour in Cornwall. James’s visit to Little Bridge House was a real highlight for seven year old cricket fan Fynn, who visits the hospice with his brother Stanley. Fynn was delighted to meet James, and got the chance to trade a few shots with him!
I am so pleased to have been able to support CHSW throughout my testimonial year, and will continue to do so as and when I can. Its hospices do the most incredible work for children with life-limiting conditions. James Hildreth
Changes at Little Bridge House At the end of August, Little Bridge House bade a sad farewell to Senior Care Team Leader, Andrew Bazzard, who has retired after 13 years with Children’s Hospice South West. Andrew was inspired by Eddie and Jill Farwell’s vision to open a children’s hospice and was involved in the early days of fundraising and publicising the new charity. He joined CHSW in 2005, working in a variety of Care and Sibling support roles, before taking on the position of Senior Team Leader in 2016, CHSW’s 25th anniversary year. He has fond memories of the anniversary service at Exeter Cathedral, including carrying the Little Bridge House banner and standing at the front with one of his ‘contact’ children clutching the banner pole as tightly as she could. Andrew says his time at Little Bridge House has left him with many snapshots and memories, from sharing a child’s last moments with their family and then supporting them through the funeral and beyond; to seeing parents relax for the first time for months when they realise the Care Team are able to support them and care for their child.
Some of his more lively and unusual moments include playing the part of a zombie for an entire day, taking teenagers to football matches at Exeter and Plymouth and even dressing as Snow White (complete with tights and wig) to bring smiles to children on Christmas morning! Andrew was also involved in the development of the Dads’ Group at Little Bridge House, taking part in epic walks, kayaking and outings. He has also been a keen fundraiser, running the London Marathon and the Royal Parks Half.
He will be greatly missed by his colleagues and the families he has supported over the last 13 years, and Andrew says the feeling is mutual: I’ve been able to work with some wonderful colleagues; and I’ve met and got to know and cared for some extraordinary babies, children, young people, parents and families. I know Little Bridge House and all those people who have meant so much to me will retain a special place in my memories and in my heart.
We wish him well for his retirement.
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Amazing grants and special events Talented young musicians and soloists from the historic Clifton College joined with The Bristol Ensemble for an evening of exemplary music in June, raising money for Children’s Hospice South West. A drinks reception in the College’s stunning Percival Library prior to the concert gave invited guests the chance to learn about CHSW and nearby Charlton Farm. VIP guests included the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol, Cllr Cleo Lake; the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol, Susan Davies BEM DL; and Dr Tim Greene, Head of Clifton College who commented: It was a pleasure to be able to host the Summer Serenade concert in support of CHSW, and to welcome their staff, supporters and guests to the College. I know our young musicians who performed alongside the wonderful Bristol Ensemble were moved to be able to help support CHSW. I very much hope we will co-host more events in the future to promote such a worthy cause.
Wooden Spoon Devon helps transform sensory room Multi-sensory stimulation is so important for children and the sensory room at Little Bridge House has been in use for more than 20 years. Thanks to our many supporters, including a grant of £15,000 from Wooden Spoon Devon, the room underwent a state of the art transformation and now features coloured bubble tubes, fibre optic cascades, integrated acoustic systems and sparkling lights. Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby. Charity ambassador and former England captain and prop, Phil Vickery MBE, visited for the official opening.
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The ca lmest, s afe place - my ho st me away f rom home.
We are thrilled to have an amazing room to enhance the care and experiences we can give children, and we hope families will enjoy it for many years. The fantastic, generous donation has enabled us to bring our facilities up to date; it’s a stunning asset to our hospice. Tracy Freame, Little Bridge House Head of Care
A new car for Charlton Farm CHSW’s Charlton Farm was recently delighted to receive the generous gift of a brand new seven seater Renault Scenic for the hospice’s Sibling Team from the John James Bristol Foundation. The Foundation has supported Charlton Farm since its inception and Trustee John Haworth visited Charlton Farm to present the keys to Senior Sibling Support Worker, Jamie Symes and Major Gifts, Trusts and Grants Officer, Ann Juby. On behalf of the Foundation, Mr Haworth said: John James Bristol Foundation is delighted to be able to support the valuable work done by Children’s Hospice South West Sibling Team and hope the children have many happy memories of the trips taken using the new vehicle. The Sibling Team offers a wide range of exciting activities such as trips to leisure parks, entertainment centres or even visits in the community to fire stations or airports. The John James Bristol Foundation’s wonderful gift will allow these activities to continue in a vehicle very much suited to children and young people.
What do you think of when you imagine our hospices? It was an inspiring, homely and altogether lovely visit. It has shown me even the littlest things can truly change a life. We often try to tell people about the fun, happiness and laughter which makes our hospices special places. Some believe us, while some find it difficult to imagine how an environment caring for children with life-limiting conditions could be filled with anything other than sadness.
I was it to b expecti ng em a hos ore l i ke pital .
Each month, our hospices hold Open Days, which we hope will help to show how even the littlest things we do can raise so many smiles. These take place on days The bu ild ing when there are no planned ‘hugs’ you! family visits, so our visitors need not worry about intruding e on a family’s precious time with us. m e d a
m My visit ntly about iffere think d . It feels li ke es ly, hospic , home a lovely lace. p happy
For more details, or to book a tour place at your local hospice, please call 01271 325 270 or visit www.chsw.org.uk/open
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A regular donation can add up to a big difference Throughout this newsletter, we’ve heard how the little things make a difference to the families we support. Whether it’s a rare undisturbed night’s sleep, the chance to enjoy a home cooked meal together as a family, or simply the time to play together, these are little things many of us take for granted, but which add up to make a big difference. A regular monthly donation adds up in the same way. Even a small donation of £5 per month adds up to make a big difference to our families. Every donation, however large or small, helps us to plan ahead, ensuring we continue to help families make the most of the time they spend with us. Signing up for a regular donation is a wonderful way to support our work. In the last financial year, monthly
donations added up to an amazing £163,000, this is the
equivalent of heating, lighting and power for our three hospices throughout the year.
To keep our hospices open it costs around £10 million per year. We are funded almost entirely by voluntary donations from people like you, who want to help us make a real difference to the lives of children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Page 20
How your donation helps
£10
per month Could help provide arts and craft materials for art therapy and fun filled family time in our messy play rooms.
£15
per month Could provide families with a home cooked meal and the rare opportunity to eat together as a family.
£25
per month Could help run our specially adapted vehicles, providing transport for days out for siblings or families.
£50
per month Could help us provide a special Teenage Weekend for our older children to stay and enjoy themed activities without their parents.
For every £1 donated, 75p goes directly towards care at our three hospices
I would like to be a regular supporter Simply complete the form below in BLOCK CAPITALS and return to: Children’s Hospice South West, Little Bridge House, Redlands Road, Fremington, Barnstaple EX31 2PZ Title:
First name:
Surname:
Home address:
Date of birth: Daytime tel no: Postcode:
Email:
It’s easy to sign up Simply visit www.chsw.org.uk/regular, or fill in the form opposite. Please also fill in the Gift Aid form overleaf if you are able to do so. Completed forms can be returned to us in the Freepost envelope, or by post to: Freepost RTJT-SLZG-BKYE Children’s Hospice South West Little Bridge House Redlands Road Fremington Barnstaple EX31 2PZ You won’t need a stamp, but if you choose to use one, you will be saving valuable funds.
We take your privacy seriously. We will store your details securely on our database(s) and we will only use your personal information to provide the services you have requested from us. We will never share your details with third parties for marketing purposes. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy at www.chsw.org.uk/privacy or call 01271 325 270.
I wish to give
Our Direct Debits are collected on the 16th of every month
£ .................................. each month until further notice
Starting on 16th .............................(month) .....................(year) Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay a Direct Debit To: The manager
Service User Number
Full name and address of your Bank or Building Society
Bank/Building Society:
7
1
0
0
4
1
Branch:
Name(s) of account holder(s): Bank sort code:
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-
Bank account no:
Instruction to your Bank or Building Society Please pay HSBC for the account of: Children’s Hospice South West DD Account, bank sort code: 40-14-13, account no: 12201712 subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand this Instruction may remain with Children’s Hospice South West and if so details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society. Signature: Please also complete the Gift Aid form overleaf if you are able to do so
Date:
your regular donation You can make your regular donation worth even more if you add Gift Aid. If you are a UK taxpayer, CHSW can claim an additional 25p from HM Revenue and Customs for every £1 you donate, at no extra cost to you. Last year, Gift Aid on our regular donations could have covered the total cost of feeding our families at one of our hospices for a whole year. For more information about Gift Aid, please visit www.chsw.org.uk/giftaid
www.chsw.org.uk
enquiries@chsw.org.uk
In order to Gift Aid your donation you must tick the box below: I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past four years to Children’s Hospice South West. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. Please notify the charity if you: • Want to cancel this declaration • Change your name or home address • No longer pay sufficient tax on your Income and/or Capital Gains
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Disclaimer: Please note that no part of this Newsletter may be reproduced without the prior consent of Children’s Hospice South West.
Redlands Road, Fremington, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 2PZ 01271 325 270
Charlton Drive, Wraxall, North Somerset BS48 1PE 01275 866 600
Porthpean Road, Porthpean, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 6AZ 01726 871 800