Rainbows Hospice is facing lockdown shortfall of £1m
Fund-raising appeal launched to combat affect of lockdown
RAINBOWS Hospice for Children and Young people, which cares for those with life-limiting illnesses from Loughborough, has launched a fundraising appeal as it faces losses of up to £1 million because of the Covid-19 crisis.
Since the start of the outbreak, the charity has suffered a huge dent in its income, and will continue incurring significant losses without donations which prompted the appeal launch on Friday (June 19).
Shortfalls have occurred because Rainbows has been forced to close its five shops across the East Midlands, mass participation events have been cancelled and it is unable to hold any fundraising events.
Schools, community groups and companies cannot carry out their regular fundraising and income from legacies and the Rainbows’ Lottery is also down. This year’s Spring Superdraw was cancelled for the first time in its history.
Officials said Rainbows is not at imminent risk of closure, the long term impact for the hospice, which supports over 450 families, is unknown.
Julie Taylor, Executive Nurse and Director of Clinical Operations at Rainbows, has been a nurse for 31 years. She said: “It’s safe to say I’ve never experienced anything like the impact Covid19 is having on nursing and care services. 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; this situation has made their lives immeasurably harder.
“We work to make every day, for every child, the best day it possibly can be – right up to their last. 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.”
The biggest change Rainbows has made is how the hospice building in
Loughborough is used. Since the crisis began, Rainbows has been looking after children and young people from Leicester’s Children’s Hospital to help relieve strains on the NHS and nursing them until it’s safe for them to go home.
The charity has also extended its bereavement support and counselling to every local family who has lost a loved one, and last month, its At Home Support service was launched enabling Hospice Care Assistants to visit Rainbows families in their own homes. Rainbows is also providing emergency stays for families and end of life care.
Julie Taylor added: “At Rainbows, we rely on donations and fundraising 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 Rainbows, visit rainbows. or call 01509 638049.