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Rainbow Trust provides bespoke emotional and practical support direct to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. For these families every day is unthinkably tough, but Rainbow Trust makes life just a little bit easier. Their teams of Family Support Workers across the country provide care and support for the whole family: from their child鈥檚 diagnosis, during treatment and, if needed, through bereavement and beyond.

Rowan was given Pinky on the day she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Rainbow Trust helped her parents with information and an understanding ear, and practicalities like transport to make the 100 mile round-trip for specialised hospital treatment.

A frightened Rowan found comfort in her beloved fluffy companion when she was waiting for chemotherapy and Rainbow Trust were there to support her mother, Beth, when she accompanied Rowan to hospital appointments.

Photo shows Rowan at nearly five years old with Pinky

Having a child with a life threatening or terminal illness impacts on the whole family 鈥� Rainbow Trust supports parents, siblings and grandparents who are often forgotten. These days, grandparents can play a large part in a family鈥檚 support network and are doubly affected by their grandchild鈥檚 illness as they worry about their own child, the parent, dealing with their child鈥檚 illness and their grandchild.

Trips to hospital appointments can be very stressful as parents struggle through traffic or try to find parking at the hospital. Rainbow Trust Family Support Workers pick families up from their homes and take them to the hospital for their appointments. During these trips, parents can relax and talk about their concerns with the Family Support Worker so they arrive better prepared to deal with their child鈥檚 appointments or treatment.

Photo shows a nine year old Rowan enjoying some free time with Janet, her Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker

When a family is in crisis, 24 hour support is available and given wherever it is needed. Most support services leave a family when their child dies, but Rainbow Trust is there for them as long as a family needs to be. They are one of the only organisations that supports families through bereavement and beyond.

鈥淟ife goes on, friends go back to work, but Rainbow Trust is always there.鈥�

Charlotte Prunty, Emma鈥檚 mother.

Emma died in 2013 aged five years old. Rainbow Trust supported Charlotte and Emma鈥檚 older brother and sister throughout her illness, were at Emma鈥檚 funeral and still support her family today.