Rainbow Trust Children's Charity

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity supports seriously ill children and their families in the family home and local community. Families who have a child or young person up to the age of 18 with a life threatening or terminal illness are eligible for our support and referrals can come from any source. We enable families to manage everyday life while caring for a sick child and to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support via a Family Support Worker. Our support is flexible and adapted to the individual needs of the families we support. Rainbow Trust’s support can include short breaks from caring for a poorly child, support with hospital visits including transport to and from appointments, support for siblings and bereavement support. As a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, Rainbow Trust also offers virtual support to families which can include opportunities for children to play games and do arts and crafts activities on video calls. Please contact us for more information about the service available in the South West.

Our support includes:

  • Providing short breaks for the sick child and siblings, including trips out or fun activities which are either done at home or on video calls
  • Spending time with the ill child at hospital or home
  • Accompanying and supporting parents and their child during clinic and hospital visits, providing transport to hospital appointments 
  • Helping maintain normality in the home by working with and caring for siblings, to ensure usual activities are continued
  • Siblings may be supported through one-to-one sessions, help getting to school or with homework, regular sibling groups and school holiday events and activities
  • Providing practical support with household chores to help families manage day to day life
  • Providing emotional support
  • Providing bereavement support