Jobs to go at Rainbows

Hospice forced to make redundancies due to impact of Covid

JOBS are to go at Rainbows after the children’s hospice saw a £1 million drop in income.

The coronavirus outbreak led to the summer fund-raising events being cancelled, while the money raised by events held by community groups, offices and schools also dried up.

The Loughborough hospice, which supports youngsters with life-limiting conditions, has already shut five of its charity shops across the region in a bid to save money and now staff have been warned there will be job cuts.

There are 160 people working in various part-time and full-time paid roles at the hospice and the redundancies will be equivalent to six fulltime jobs.

Dee Sissons, the hospice’s chief executive officer, said: “We can confirm that in an organisation of 160 staff, we are proposing the equivalent of six full-time posts will be made redundant.

“We will be seeking voluntary redundancies in the first instance and all staff are being fully supported through the process.

“This difficult decision has been made as we adapt our service model and long-term strategy to meet the needs of our families in this new climate, as well as increasing our reach to those children and young people who need us the most.”

The hospice launched an emergency appeal back in June when it announced the scale of its income drop, which has also been affected by reduced amounts coming from the Rainbows’ Lottery and cash in people’s wills. While the hospice, which first opened 26 years ago, is not at risk of closing, the cuts will make it tougher for the staff to give as much support to the 450 families it works with, many of whom have found life even harder due to the pandemic.

Speaking in July, Rainbows executive nurse Julie Taylor, right, said: “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.

“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.”

People are being urged to donate to the Rainbows appeal, either by calling 01509 638049 or visiting its website, rainbows.co.uk

What your donation could buy:

■ £20 could help the Bereavement Team support a family in their loss.

■ £30 could help pay for an hour’s care from a nurse at the hospice.

■ £50 could fund a home visit from a Rainbows nurse giving respite care to an isolated family.

■ £120 could help keep the Bereavement Suites open for grieving parents who lose a child in hospital.