Robin House is one of two vital hospices serving Scotland run by the charity Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). Last month the effects of Storm Eowyn led to over £60,000 in damage to the 6.5-acre site in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire, leaving the much-loved gardens unsafe to use.
Thanks to a surprise funding boost they now say that they are able to repair the damage.
CHAS families, staff and volunteers were stunned to pick up an award of £150,000 raised by Postcode Lottery players.
The funding comes off the back of a Balloch postcode winning the lottery’s Millionaire Street prize on Saturday 15 February. Fifteen neighbours of Inchfad Road, located just a few hundred yards from the hospice, shared £1 million at the weekend. Good causes close to the winning postcode also benefit as part of the prize.
CHAS CEO Rami Okasha said: “At Robin House our garden is so important to the ongoing care for the children and families we support. This fantastic funding, made thanks to the generosity of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, will make a huge difference to Robin House ensuring we can fix the garden and so much more.”
“Our garden is special place and often offers the only active, accessible outdoor space our families can enjoy and explore safely. It also holds many precious memories for families and offers a quiet sanctuary for parents, siblings and loved ones.”
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “CHAS provides incredible care and support for children and their families in Scotland during some of the most challenging times in their lives. That care is delivered by a dedicated network of staff and volunteers, and we are delighted that our players are helping ensure these vital services can continue to make a difference here at Robin House.”
While main hospice buildings were unscathed, the 90mph blasts uprooted mature trees, destroyed fences, damaged drainage and wrecked the garden’s polytunnel cover and frame beyond rescue.
In the weeks since the storm CHAS volunteers have worked tirelessly on the tidy up. They have been supported by West Dunbartonshire Councils Green-spaces team who have helped with manpower and free skips to remove huge amounts of debris.
Rami added: “We know how well-loved Robin House is from the local support we have received. Our gardens are an essential part of the care and wellbeing for our families.
“Each week in Scotland three children die from an incurable condition and many children with incurable conditions enjoy respite and end of life care with CHAS in Robin House. No one should have to face the death of a child alone. All fundraising support makes a huge difference.”
To donate to CHAS Donate | Children’s Hospices Across Scotland
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- Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) provides unwavering care to children who may die young and their families, at every step on this hardest of journeys.
- We provide support in the early days after a child is diagnosed with a life-shorting condition. Having a very ill child means a family’s life changes enormously, and we are there to help every family member emotionally, clinically, and practically.
- We provide integrated palliative and end of life care as well as respite care for the whole family in our two hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch.
- Our outreach team operates in every local authority area – providing highly skilled nursing care for children in their own homes (often in partnership with local teams), as well as a full family support service. This includes social work, income maximisation, energy advice, spiritual and bereavement support, transition to adult services for 16 – 21s, and therapeutic play.
- There is a joint CHAS/ NHS specialist team in every children’s hospital in Scotland. The only specialist Paediatric Palliative Medicine posts in Scotland are funded by CHAS. Our Diana Children’s Nurses provide specialist support alongside the NHS in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
- We are there at the end of life, supporting children to die with dignity, in accordance with their and their parents’ wishes, and we also help in the difficult days after a child dies and can offer bereavement support in the years ahead.
- The wonderful letters which form our logo are created by the children and families that use our services.
- Follow CHAS on Twitter and Instagram: @supportCHAS, or like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supportCHAS
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- People’s Postcode Lottery is an external lottery manager which operates charity lotteries on behalf of 20 independent Postcode Trusts. It is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission. Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised more than £1.4 billion for thousands of charities and local good causes.
- Winning Millionaire Street locations are announced every Saturday. Following February’s Postcode Lottery draws, four Millionaire Street winning locations will be announced.
- Balloch is the second of those locations. Local charities in each of the four winning areas will share a combined total of £1 million to support their work.
- Funds are raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded by Postcode Community Trust.
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