Children’s Hospice Week (13-20 June) – raising awareness and funds to support sick children and their parents

Posted: 18/06/2014

Children's Hospice Week is the UK's only awareness raising and fundraising week devoted to children with life-limiting conditions and the services, such as children's hospices, that support them. This year’s Children’s Hospice Week (13 – 20 June) aims to highlight the amazing round-the-clock care provided to seriously ill children by their families, children’s hospices, professionals and other services across the country.

Often children with life-limiting conditions have such complex needs that they require care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This can put enormous physical, emotional and financial strain on parents, siblings and other carers. Children’s hospices and other palliative care services offer a vital avenue of support when families need it most.

There is sometimes a misconception about the services that hospices offer and many think that they are focused purely on end of life care. Children’s hospices in fact offer a wide range of services, from short breaks offering children and their families vital respite, counselling and support, play schemes, activity days and expert support in the family home.

Children’s hospices up and down the country are hosting events all week to raise awareness and vital funds to support their ongoing work, culminating in “Superhero Friday” on 20 June, when fundraisers are asked to dress as their favourite superhero, pop star, actor, sports personality, or a friend or a family member that has made a difference to their life.

Penningtons Manches acts for many children whose profound and complex physical needs were caused by clinical negligence, for example those who have suffered a brain injury around the time of birth. Many of these children and their families have benefitted in some way from the services of their local children’s hospice.

Guy Forster, a clinical negligence solicitor specialising in claims on behalf of disabled children, said: “We know only too well just how vital children’s hospices can be for families, not just in terms of providing expert care and support at times of great need but also in making life easier on a day to day basis so that they do not reach crisis point and can concentrate on enjoying family life. We very much hope that hospices around the country will receive the recognition they deserve and raise much-needed funds to carry on their amazing work.”

Please click here for more information on Children’s Hospice Week 2014.

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