Rainbows facing a £1m loss after Covid wipes out its fund-raising

Outbreak closed shop and stopped events for county charity

RAINBOWS hospice says it faces a £1 million loss due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Leicestershire charity, which cares for youngsters with life-limiting illnesses, said it had “suffered a huge dent” in its income since lockdown measures were introduced.

Its trustees believe it will continue to incur “significant losses” unless donations can be found.

In response, Rainbows is launching a major fund-raising appeal.

“It’s safe to say I’ve never experienced anything like the impact Covid-19 is having on nursing and care services,” said Julie Taylor, executive nurse and director of clinical operations, and a nurse with 31 years’ experience.

“For the children we care for at Rainbows and their families, it’s been a desperately difficult and often heartbreaking experience.

“Children living with a condition that could end their life at any time already have it tough enough and this situation has made their lives immeasurably harder.” The losses have been incurred due to a series of factors, including Rainbows being forced to close its five charity shops across the East Midlands.

Mass-participation fund-raising events have been cancelled, while schools, community groups and companies have also been unable to organise their regular fund-raising activities.

The charity said its income from legacies and the Rainbows’ Lottery is also down, with this year’s spring superdraw cancelled for the first time.

Ms Taylor said that, while the hospice is not at imminent risk of closure, the long-term impact of the financial losses on its work supporting more than 450 families is unknown.

“We work to make every day, for every child, the best day it possibly can be right up to their last,” she said.

“But achieving that has become so, so much harder. We’ve had to redesign every part of our care services and we’re busier now than we’ve ever been.

“But we’ve lost crucial income and that’s a massive worry for us all.”

Since the crisis began, it has been looking after children and young people from Leicester’s Children’s Hospital to help relieve strain on the NHS – nursing them until it is safe to return home.

The charity has also extended its bereavement support and counselling to every family who has lost a loved one.

Last month, it launched its At Home Support service, allowing hospice care assistants to visit families. Rainbows is also providing emergency stays for families and end-of-life care.

“Another important change we’ve made is perhaps the most moving,” said Ms Taylor.

“Normally, parents whose child dies in hospital can visit them after death in a special room next to the mortuary. But, sadly, these rooms are now needed for those who have lost their battle with the virus.

“At Rainbows, we have two bereavement suites – self-contained areas where children who die can be laid to rest on a specialist cold bed.

“We have opened these rooms up so, although we weren’t part of their child’s care in life, we can give parents a place to be with their child, to grieve and to say goodbye in peace.

“At Rainbows, we rely on donations and fund-raising to keep our services running and much of that has disappeared overnight.

“We’ve received some support from the government but we’re still left with a huge hole in our income.

“We know times are hard for everyone but we are determined to continue to be by the side of these incredibly vulnerable children, to still make every day the best it can be.”

To donate to the Rainbows appeal. call 01509 638049 or visit the website: