Support for you
We work towards offering support to children and their families as they deal with the consequences of serious illness and complex conditions. Read on to find out more about the different forms of support we can offer.
HELPING HANDS
We understand that caring for a seriously ill child or looking after a young person with complex care needs can often be very challenging and time consuming. WellChild’s Helping Hands offers practical support by conducting home improvement projects, such as decorating a child's bedroon or transforming a garden for a wheelchair user.
Before and after photos of Morgan and Jayson's Helping Hands Project
“All your hard work has really changed the boys lives, which has a huge positive impact on our family unit. If our boys are happy we are happy too. This takes us away from all the negative stuff that comes with having two children with special needs, seeing them just be in a safe beautiful garden is truly the most treasured gift we could ever be given.” Allison, mother to Morgan and Jayson who had their garden transformed by the Helping Hands team.
If you think you would benefit from Helping Hands, click here.
WOLFRAM FAMILIES
Wolfram Syndrome is a rare and complex disorder, meaning it can be difficult for those with the syndrome or undergoing diagnosis to access local information and advice. This can leave them and their families feeling isolated and alone.
In partnership with Birmingham Children’s Hospital, WellChild’s Wolfram Syndrome Family Coordinator works with families with children and young people affected by the disease; to provide information, support and advice.
To find out more about Rachel’s work, click here.
MEDICINES FOR CHILDREN
Produced in collaboration with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG), Medicines for Children gives practical and reliable advice about giving medicine to your child.
The website contains leaflets on a range of medicines that answer your questions about how and when to give the medicine, what to do if you forget to give the medicine or give it twice, and any possible side-effects. You can also read about or watch short films about giving different forms of medicines, including tablets, capsules, liquid medicine, injections, suppositories and enemas, eye drops/ointment and ear drops.
You can visit the Medicines for Children website, here.
NURSES
WellChild nurses work to improve the lives of sick children and their families by helping to ensure that children with complex needs can leave hospital and return home wherever possible. They help to make sure that families have access to the care and support they need at the times when they most need it.
Families are usually referred to a WellChild Nurse by their community teams and health professionals. It is our hope that one day all families with a seriously ill child will have access to a WellChild Nurse. We will continue to campaign and fundraise hard to achieve this goal.
RESEARCH
WellChild funds research that will improve the health of children either now or in the future. Projects help to inform or improve the diagnosis, treatment or care of sick children.You can find out more about some of the projects that we have funded here.
We are currently reviewing our research programme, with more of a focus on the involvement of families in our research activities, and how can we engage more with children, young people and their families in the future. Keep up-to-date by joining us on Facebook or Twitter, or keeping an eye on our website.
CONNECTING FAMILIES
We understand the importance of mutual support between families. We have therefore provided you with a number of ways that you can get in touch with other families online. Find out how here.
“Day-to-day, there are issues that all families with sick children face – seizures, eating problems and tube feeding, vomiting, care at home. I want to be there for others, and say ‘you can do this’ " Sarah, mum of Ben, aged 12.
