Press Release from RIBI

January 2004

ROTARY PARTNERSHIP WITH ACH OFF TO FLYING START WITH £150,000 RAISED

The partnership between Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland and the Association of Children’s Hospices announced in July has got off to a flying start. Rotary Clubs have participated in many fund raising events and in the first five months more than £150,000 has been donated by clubs to various hospices in Great Britain and Ireland.

In addition Rotarians are giving hundreds of man hours each week at local hospices. Many Rotary Clubs organised events over the Christmas period, the Rotary Club of Windsor St George for example, had a wonderful Christmas concert which raised in the region of £3,500.

The partnership has also raised awareness, and in Ireland, for example, a new children’s hospice is being planned in Dublin, with Rotary support.

There are some 20,000 children across the UK with conditions that mean they will not live to reach adulthood. Some children die when very young; others deteriorate slowly over many years. Families caring for life-limited children – often 24 hours a day over many years – can feel extremely isolated and under enormous emotional, physical and financial strain: relationships can suffer; careers may have to be abandoned; well brothers and sisters feel left out; and normal family activities become impossible.

Children’s Hospices welcome whole families for respite care, giving them a break together or time to themselves in a comfortable home-like atmosphere. They provide expert palliative and emergency care; practical advice and information ; and also terminal care and support into bereavement for as long as it is needed.

There are currently 26 fully operational children’s hospices in the United Kingdom, 5 organisations offering a Hospice at Home service, 1 children’s hospice Day Care service and another 13 projects with plans at various stages to establish a children’s hospice service. ACH works on behalf of all of these organisations.

Brian Stoyel, President of Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland said “I am delighted at the pace that the partnership has taken off and the support from Rotary Clubs throughout these islands, raising both awareness and much needed funds to continue and expand the wonderful children’s hospice services which so many parents depend on. “

Barbara Gelb, Chief Executive of ACH said’ This is wonderful news, and we are so grateful to the Rotary Clubs, who are working so hard on behalf of their local children’s hospice.

For more information or photos please contact Judith Diment on 01628 672965 or 07860 162313
For more information about ACH Contact Barbara Gelb ACH Telephone 0117 905 5082 .

Notes for Editors

1.Rotary is an organisation of business and professional persons united world-wide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. Members carry out this work in their own community and/or overseas by giving their time and their expertise. A Rotary Club is open to men and women who are business, professional or community leaders who want to use their experience for the benefit of others.

For general information on Rotary in your area, contact the local Rotary Club President. Details from Robin Freeman: 01789 765411 www.rotary-ribi.org

2. ACH was formed in 1995 and is a small, national charity and umbrella organization working on behalf of all UK children’s hospices. ACH seeks to improve the provision , regulation, quality and funding of children’s hospices services and promote the needs of life-limited children and their families. ACH receives no statutory funding and increasingly relies on Corporate sponsors to fund core costs.

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