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30 years ago the Commodore 64 home computer was released, HRH Prince William was born and E.T visited Earth for the first time! Time Magazine made history when it awarded “Man of the Year” to the first ever non-human... a computer, and The Sick Children’s Trust was founded!
This year we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary – an amazing milestone in our work of supporting families.
Two children’s cancer specialists, Dr Jon Pritchard and Professor James Malpas firmly believed that sick children recovered faster when their families were with them. They realised that this vital contribution to a child’s recovery was not always possible with many families finding themselves in specialist hospitals a long way from home when their children were taken critically ill. Dr Pritchard and Professor Malpas wanted to help these families stay together in a high-quality and comfortable environment and, in order to realise this ambition, The Sick Children’s Trust was formed.
Two years later Rainbow House, our first ‘Home from Home’, close to Great Ormond Street Hospital, opened. You can see our history here.
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.
This year we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary – an amazing milestone in our work of supporting families.
Two children’s cancer specialists, Dr Jon Pritchard and Professor James Malpas firmly believed that sick children recovered faster when their families were with them. They realised that this vital contribution to a child’s recovery was not always possible with many families finding themselves in specialist hospitals a long way from home when their children were taken critically ill. Dr Pritchard and Professor Malpas wanted to help these families stay together in a high-quality and comfortable environment and, in order to realise this ambition, The Sick Children’s Trust was formed.
Two years later Rainbow House, our first ‘Home from Home’, close to Great Ormond Street Hospital, opened. You can see our history here.
Now, 30 years on, the charity has eight ‘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.
Read our special edition newsletter to see what is going on near you or if you can't take part and would like to make a donation in lieu please click here and select 30th anniversary from the drop down menu.
The contributions, big and small, of our incredible supporters made that initial ambition a reality. We need more people like YOU to continue this challenge and we warmly invite you to join us at this exciting time!
Vice President, Chris Tarrant, appeared on Daybreak on 26 June to discuss our charity and its 30 years supporting families
The contributions, big and small, of our incredible supporters made that initial ambition a reality. We need more people like YOU to continue this challenge and we warmly invite you to join us at this exciting time!
Vice President, Chris Tarrant, appeared on Daybreak on 26 June to discuss our charity and its 30 years supporting families
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.
Willow House, 17-23 Willow Place, London , SW1P 1JH, T 020 7931 8695 © 2011 The Sick Childrens Trust | SITE CREDIT
Registered Charity No. 284416.
Registered Charity No. 284416.
