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Our 30th Anniversary
This year is a very special year for The Sick Children’s Trust. We will be celebrating our 30th anniversary – an amazing milestone in our work of supporting families.
 
The charity was founded in 1982 and Rainbow House, our first ‘Home from Home’, opened its doors to families with children undergoing treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1984. You can see our history here.
 
Now, 30 years on, the charity has seven ‘Homes from Home’ across the UK and is widely regarded as one of the leading experts in the provision of ‘Home from Home’ accommodation. To date we have provided more than 40,000 family stays, important help at a difficult time.
 
The charity has lots of planned celebrations this year which will include a VIP fundraising event and an awards gala ceremony,  amongst other activities - we are also currently looking for 30 people to take part in 30 skydives across the UK!

Read our special edition newsletter to see what is going on near you.
 
One of our first families - 30 years on...

Today Lorna Wood is a drama teacher and talented amateur dramatic performer. However, she was born, in 1981, with a rare medical condition which meant she would need long-term treatment including many operations, much of this at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London.

Lorna’s longest hospital stay was six weeks, but more often she had to be in hospital for a week to ten days. Her parents, Sheila and Alex, often stayed overnight on a z-bed beside Lorna on the ward or in the hospital playroom. It was uncomfortable but they were desperate to spend as much time as possible with Lorna to care for her and help her recover. They were living in Northampton and a daily commute would be both expensive and time-consuming.

In 1984, Sheila was offered the opportunity to stay at The Sick Children’s Trust’s newly opened ‘Home from Home’ Rainbow House and their family situation was transformed. Just minutes away from GOSH, the Woods had a comfortable and homely place to stay. They could have a good night’s sleep and be refreshed for visiting Lorna the next day. This was the first of many stays in both Rainbow House and Guilford Street House that opened six years later.

Sheila says: "I often think about what we went through when Lorna was growing up, and the incredible difference that The Sick Children’s Trust made to our family. Not only did we have comfortable accommodation, but the kindness and support of the House Manager Pat – in fact we still exchange Christmas cards!"

Because The Sick Children’s Trust made such an impact on the Woods’ family, they have raised funds for us ever since. In 2012 Lorna, her sister and brother-in-law will celebrate The Sick Children’s Trust’s 30th birthday by organising a concert as part of their singing group Six Go Singing and parents Sheila and Alex will be organising a tea party as part of celebrations for their 40th wedding anniversary.

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