Chestnut Tree House – Children’s Hospice Care
The other week my doorbell rang, and I was greeted with the smiling face of Eamonn sporting his Chestnut Tree House top. Did I know the work they did? Yes, I’m aware of what they do. To say what Chestnut Tree House does is extraordinary is an understatement.
Families going through the unimaginable need help, and Chestnut Tree House do everything they can to support them when they need it most, making their time together as special as possible.
They never charge families for the care provided, so a lot of their funding has to be generated through fundraising in order to keep performing their incredible work. Rebounding from the pandemic this is more important than ever.
Recent events such as a 10km run in Littlehampton West Sussex are promising signs that we are almost back to normal life, with more to come in the near future. It’s been uplifting also to see local businesses giving their time or what they can through initiatives such as Pay for a Day, where they fund the hospice for the day.
They also host a lottery, where for just £1 a week you could win up to £1000, but more importantly will be helping to fund their work. A simple and effective way to contribute towards a worthwhile cause, and you may get something back in return if lucky!
With the high streets reopening so too have their charity shops, a crucial source spread right across Sussex, with shops in Arundel, Billingshurst, Bognor, Brighton, Chichester, Eastbourne, Goring-by-Sea, Havant, Hove, Worthing, Seaford, and our own town of Uckfield. Visiting one of their locations for a bit of shopping will help them out, so pop in next time you’re in town.
As a charitable organisation, they are assisted by voluntary efforts of those who are able to give some of their spare time. If you’re interested in helping this deeply important cause, there are a myriad of ways you can help. Their site can give more information on volunteering here, but to Uckfield residents in particular they are looking for a shop assistant to help man their spot in the high street.
We all hope we won’t need the services of a Children’s hospice, but the harsh reality is some families will, and knowing that such a professional team is close-by ready to offer all the help and support needed both throughout and the time after, it’s worth doing what we can to assist them in turn. If you’d like to know more about the work they do, please visit here: About Chestnut Tree House
Written by Neil Sonsthagen