Together for Short Lives and Morrisons have today announced a new partnership that will provide vital support for families caring for a seriously ill child and children’s hospices across the country.
Out of more than 100 charities to apply, Together for Short Lives – the only charity supporting the UK’s 54 children’s hospices – won a Morrisons colleague vote to decide which charity would benefit from a three-year partnership aiming to raise around £10 million.
Children’s hospices provide lifeline support to families facing up to the heartbreak that their child will die young. Money raised in Morrisons stores and sites will support children’s hospices with the vital funding they need to be there for the 99,000 families caring for a seriously ill child.
Together for Short Lives will become Morrisons’ new charity partner from February, when the supermarket giant’s current partnership with Young Lives vs Cancer comes to a close.
David Potts, CEO at Morrisons said, “It’s been a privilege to support Young Lives vs Cancer for the last five years and I’d like to thank our colleagues, customers and suppliers for their efforts in raising over £17m – in particular our Community Champions who’ve worked so tirelessly. We’re looking forward to teaming up with Together for Short Lives and providing vital support for children’s hospices across our local communities.”
Every single Morrisons store and site will be connected with their local children’s hospice, raising much-needed funds to help them provide families facing the unimaginable with vital care and the chance to make cherished memories together.
Together for Short Lives believes that no family should have to suffer through their child’s short life alone, and instead get the important help they need to treasure every moment together. Sadly, many families, particularly those living in Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and socially deprived areas, are struggling alone and without support.
That’s why fundraising from the partnership will also go towards a project to increase access to hospices and other vital children’s palliative care services for those who are not currently being reached. With Morrisons, Together for Short Lives will work to support every family caring for a seriously ill child in the UK who needs support.
Families like Emily’s, whose little girl Amelia was diagnosed with a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder that means she will have a short life. Emily’s local children’s hospice, Keech Hospice Care, means the absolute world to her family:
“Going to Keech was a big turning point for me, it was from then that I got even more strength to cope and just be with my family. When your child has a life-limiting illness every day is a struggle. You are met with sheer joy that can suddenly be turned into pain and hurt in a second. But Keech are always on hand.”
This new partnership will help children’s hospices provide vital support and help families feel less alone – so they can make the most of every moment they have together, whether that’s years, months or just hours.
Andy Fletcher Chief Executive at Together for Short Lives highlights the difference this partnership will make for families supported by a children’s hospice:
“We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as Morrisons’ next charity partner. Their support is going to help us make a lifetime of difference in communities up and down the country. Families of seriously ill children are pushed to their limits every day. This incredible partnership will help to ensure that lifeline children’s hospices who are there for these families, aren’t pushed to theirs. The partnership will also kick-start an exciting new project to help us reach every family who needs our help in local communities.
A partnership of this scale is just transformational – Together for Short Lives cannot save a child’s life, but with help from Morrisons colleagues and customers we can make sure that no family has to suffer through their child’s short life alone, and instead can treasure every moment they have together.”
About Together for Short Lives
When a child’s life is expected to be short, there’s no time to waste. Together for Short Lives is here to make sure the 99,000 seriously ill children and their families across the UK can make the most of every moment they have together, whether that’s for years, months or only hours. We stand alongside families, supporting them to make sure they get the vital care and help that they need.
We support and empower families caring for seriously ill children by listening to their needs and helping them find the right care. We provide easily digestible information about available support so families can spend less time searching for help and have more time together. We connect families with support services and other families who understand what they are going through, so they don’t feel as alone.
99,000 babies, children and young people are living in the UK with health conditions that are life-limiting or life-threatening—and the number is rising. Many of these children have complex conditions and need specialist care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The impact is enormous; affected parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, and the wider family make up an estimated 790,000 people who are actively involved in care. For those who love these children, accessing help and the right care can be emotionally stressful. For those of us who haven’t faced it, it’s unimaginable.
Getting the right support can make a lifetime of difference. And that’s what we are here for.
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