Volunteers needed for local children’s hospice

Chestnut Tree children’s hospice, which provides care for local life-limited children, has launched a new campaign in a plea to recruit more volunteers in the East Sussex area: Volunteer for the New Year!

The cost of all care that Chestnut Tree provides is over £3.5 million each year, less than 7% of which is funded by central government. Volunteers play a vital role in helping to provide this care, and the campaign focuses on the diverse range of volunteering opportunities available, the flexibility and the benefits of volunteering.

The campaign will give an insight into the world of volunteering, by focusing on the varied stories of existing volunteers with their different experiences and individual thoughts.

“We would not be able to exist without our amazing volunteers. The time that they give us is invaluable, without them we would not be able to provide life-limited children in East Sussex with the care that they need.”

Tracy Luker, head of East Sussex fundraising, comments, “We simply need more volunteers to come forward in the East Sussex area. There are so many different roles available and we can be completely flexible, whether it is just a one-off or a regular commitment of a few hours a week. Or you may want to just have a taster session and see how you like it. Please do just contact us and have a chat.”

Volunteering roles available at Chestnut Tree in East Sussex are many and varied. They include helping out at fundraising events, on awareness stands, becoming a Buddy and going to activity days or youth groups in the area that are held for the children, and volunteering in the Eastbourne office or at one of the three Chestnut Tree charity shops located in Eastbourne, Seaford and Uckfield.

The reach-out for volunteers is part of an ongoing Hands Up! campaign by Chestnut Tree, which has offices in Eastbourne, to raise awareness of the charity throughout East Sussex and aims to double the number of children they can provide care for in the area.

To find out more about volunteering please call 01323 725095 or email handsup@chestnut-tree-house.org.uk. For further information about Chestnut Tree in East Sussex visit www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/handsup and follow @HandsUpToHelp.

Hospice care at Chestnut Tree House

The Chestnut Tree House hospice provides specialist palliative care services to 300 children and young people from birth up to 19 with life-shortening conditions in East Sussex, West Sussex and south east Hampshire.

The services offered include assessment, advice and information for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, specialist short breaks, emergency care, step-down from hospital and end of life care.

The community team cares for families in their own homes in East Sussex, West Sussex and south east Hampshire. The multi-disciplinary team offers support for the entire family following diagnosis and through the whole disease process.

Chestnut Tree House also offers bereavement support which includes therapy, counselling and spiritual care. There is also a specialist neo-natal care service, services for under-fives and transition advice for young people moving to adult services.

Finally, Chestnut Tree House offers care for families after the unexpected death of a child or young person, including the use of our ‘Stars’ bereavement suite.

At Chestnut Tree House the goal is to provide the best quality of life for children, young people and their families, and to offer a total package of practical, social and spiritual support throughout each child’s life, however short it may be.

It costs well over £3.5 million each year to provide all the care services. Families are never charged for their care and the hospice receives less than 7% from central government, so it relies heavily on the generosity, help and support of the local community.

Hands Up! for Chestnut Tree

Hands Up! is Chestnut Tree’s new campaign that aims to double the number of children it cares for in East Sussex. As part of the campaign the charity is asking people in East Sussex to put their hands up if they can help raise awareness and funds.

Chestnut Tree knows that there are more children and families in East Sussex who could be benefiting from their care. There is often an assumption that the charity is a West Sussex one because of the location of the hospice in Arundel, but in reality Chestnut Tree offers care to children with life-shortening conditions and their families in Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Uckfield, Rye and beyond.

The campaign is not asking people to put their hands in their pockets, but to put their hands in the air and say, ‘Yes, I’ll help.’ Chestnut Tree will then work with them to find the best way for them to help, whether that is by getting their company involved, holding a fundraising event, volunteering, spreading the word or taking part in one of our sponsored challenges.

 

More information about Chestnut Tree House.

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