Date published: 01 February 2022 by Claire Coussins
At Rainbow Trust our vision is that every family in the UK who has a child with a life-threatening illness receives the support they need.
It has long been a strategic priority for us to grow Rainbow Trust care services to reach more families, both in the existing regions where we already support as well as expanding into new areas.
We have been extremely fortunate to secure funding to establish Care teams in two locations. Anne Harris, Rainbow Trust Director of Care Services, said:
"As we celebrate thirty-five years of care at Rainbow Trust, we are thrilled to be in a position to create two new Care teams, one in Liverpool to expand coverage in the North West and Wales, and one in Reading to boost care provision in the South.
"When the teams are in place later this year, it will take the total number of care team locations across the country from six to eight, enhancing our face-to-face support with capacity for up to 160 additional families per year.
"This, along with our new online support offer, gives the opportunity to significantly increase our ability to reach more families in need, now in and in the future, across the UK."
New team locations
Liverpool has been a target area for Rainbow Trust for several years as we have been aware that there are a number of families in desperate need for the type of support Rainbow Trust provides. The most recent research* on the prevalence of childhood illness indicates that in Liverpool and the surrounding areas (Cheshire/Liverpool/North Wales region) there are more than 3,000 families with a child that has a life-limiting illness. Rainbow Trust has supported families attending Alder Hey for treatment and is also represented on the two palliative care networks in the region. We are in discussion with the two children's hospices in the area to ensure that the new team can complement the existing network of support to make sure that families receive the full care that they require. We are very grateful to the Kentown Wizard Foundation which will ensure funding for this team for up to three years.
Reading has been chosen as a priority location as it will allow us to increase support for families in Reading, some of which are currently supported by our existing teams in the South West, Southampton and London & South East. It will also give us the opportunity to offer increased support in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. Research* indicates that there are potentially almost 1,500 children and their families in the area who could benefit from our support. Rainbow Trust is already represented on the Thames Valley palliative care network and has good working relationships with the children's hospices in the area.
How can you get involved?
- Take on our new virtual challenge to help us raise awareness and vital funds. You can run, walk, cycle, swim or even hop the distance, either on your own or as a team, from Liverpool to Reading – an impressive 180 miles! For more information about this challenge, or to sign up today, email: [email protected].
- Recruitment for new staff in the new teams will start this spring. See our jobs pages for latest vacancies.
- Refer a family for support.
*Make Every Child Count study, University of York, 2020