The Rotary Club of Hunterston found out all about the increasingly important work carried out by the Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) charity at their meeting last Wednesday evening.

CHAS delivers much needed support services for families with babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

Cara Bowden, the West of Scotland community fundraiser for CHAS, told the Rotary that since the Covid pandemic there had been more calls for help then ever through the organisation’s palliative care, family respite and support throughout Scotland, which includes dedicated bases in Aberdeen and Inverness in addition to its two hospices - Robin House, near Loch Lomond, and Rachel House in Kinross.

Cara said: “We provide these service through hospices, home care services and hospital presence. We can have up to eight families staying in each hospice at any one time, which had to be reduced during the pandemic.

“Studies done in recent years found that there over 16,700 children were likely to die young. CHAS now supports one in three of these young people and their families with palliative care in hospices and at home.

“Our work helps families make the most of the time they have together, no matter how short, to create happy memories that will last a lifetime.”

Rotarians heard how CHAS began operating in Scotland in 1992 and within the first four years (1996) it opened its first hospice – known as Rachel House - in Kinross, providing palliative care, family respite and support.

In March 2020 CHAS launched the UK's first Virtual Children's Hospice which supported children with life-shortening conditions and their families during the coronavirus crisis. The success of this virtual hospice continues today offering families nursing, medical and pharmacy advice by phone and video.

In addition there is bereavement support and money and benefits advice. The service also offers a storytelling service for children at home, letter writing for children and parents, activity packs and art clubs.

Ms Bowden, who leads the CHAS fundraising efforts in an area stretching from Dumfries and Galloway to Oban, said that the organisation was now encouraging more people to consider leaving donations through their wills.

She added: “Although we receiving vital core funding from the Scottish government, we still require additional financial support from businesses and the general public in order to continue to expand our presence and effectiveness across Scotland.

“We are grateful to members of the Rotary Club of Hunterston for many years of support through their previous annual golf competitions and general fundraising on our behalf.”

Anyone wishing to talk to CHAS about their own situation or find out more about its services can call 0131 444 1900.

Individuals, organisation or businesses wishing to support CHAS should contact Cara at carabowden@Chas.org.uk.