Join St Oswald’s Hospice and show your support for this year’s Children’s Hospice Week (17th-23rd June).
St Oswald’s Children and Young Adults Service offers a range of support for children and young adults living with a life-shortening condition, and their families, across the North East region. The support provided includes short break care, art and music therapy, end of life care and support through bereavement.
Children’s Hospice Week is a chance for St Oswald’s to raise awareness of what children’s hospices mean to seriously ill children and families, to celebrate the lifeline care they provide and show how they support families to make precious memories. It’s hoped that by changing perceptions around children’s hospices that more families caring for seriously ill children seek help from their local hospice.
One young person benefitting from St Oswald’s services is Ellen Law, age 18 from Wallsend, Newcastle. Ellen has a rare condition that affects her muscles called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2. Despite living with the genetic condition, Ellen’s hopes to make more special moments and memories at university this summer. Ellen said:
“Because of my condition, I am in an electric wheelchair all day, and I need help with things like administering medication. My Mam helps me a lot so when I’m at St Oswald’s it means she can have a rest from looking after and supporting me. When I first found out about St Oswald’s I was nervous about attending as I hadn’t really stayed anywhere without my Mam before. But on arrival the environment was very warm and friendly.
“It benefits me coming to the hospice as it gives me independence away from my family and a different kind of support. I go to their monthly young adult social group which means I can do things I probably wouldn’t be able to without St Oswald’s. This month we went to an ice bar in Newcastle which I really enjoyed.”
Talking about her plans for the future, Ellen said:
“At the minute I am completing my A Levels and I have a conditional offer for university this summer. I’m hoping to study Maths at Newcastle University and I have plans to move from home in to student accommodation.”
During the week St Oswald’s is encouraging supporters to share moments that matter to them using #ChildrensHospiceWeek.
To make a donation to St Oswald’s, text MOMENTS to 70085 to donate £3. This costs £3 plus a standard rate message. Alternatively, you can opt to give any whole amount from £1 to £20, e.g. text MOMENTS 20 to 70085 to donate £20.