Cambridge Building Society kicks off fundraising for The Sick Children’s Trust with Big Chocolate Tea

Cambridge Building Society staff have got their fundraising efforts off to a choc-tastic start this month for The Sick Children’s Trust as part of its 2018 ‘Homes and Housing’ charity programme.

The Sick Children’s Trust, which supports families with seriously ill children in hospital with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation, was chosen as the building society’s Summer Community Partner following a staff vote.

Cambridge Building Society has 12 branches across Cambridgeshire which will get involved in various activities throughout May, June and July to fundraise and support the charity’s two Cambridge ‘Homes from Home’ Acorn and Chestnut Houses, located on the Addenbrooke’s Hospital site. John Allen, Team Leader for the Summer partnership, says:

“The next couple of months are fully packed with staff initiatives to support families with critically ill children undergoing lifesaving treatment at Addenbrooke’s and The Rosie Hospitals.

“After hearing about the vital work The Sick Children’s Trust does to alleviate some of the stresses and worries families experience when they have a child in hospital, there was an overwhelming response from staff to support the charity. It’s hard to imagine how families cope when their world is turned upside down, but it’s clear just how much of a difference The Sick Children’s Trust makes in that situation.

“We want to help the charity be there for even more families who find themselves in a hospital miles away from home. So far, our team has been busy cooking up tasty treats for families staying at Acorn and Chestnut Houses to enjoy when they return after a busy day on the wards. We are also joining in with the charity’s fundraising campaign, Big Chocolate Tea, and all of our branches recently held an office bake-off which raised £158.33.

“We’re determined to do what we can for The Sick Children’s Trust and keep more families together with their seriously ill child. In addition to cooking and taking part in Big Chocolate Tea, we are holding a Royal Wedding Dress Down Day, undertaking a sponsored cycle which will cover the average distance families have to travel for their child’s lifesaving treatment, and we will be supporting the charity’s Family Fun Day on Saturday 10 June at Swavesey Windmill.”

The Sick Children’s Trust supports around 4,000 families every year with seriously ill children in hospital. Last year, Acorn and Chestnut Houses supported over 800 families whose children required specialist treatment at Addenbrooke’s and The Rosie Hospitals. Although the accommodation is free of charge to families, it costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night.

Acorn and Chestnut House Manager Abi Abdel-aal says:

"We're absolutely delighted to have been selected as one of Cambridge Building Society's charity partners for 2018. Over the years we have received a lot of support from the team, who have already enabled hundreds of families with critically ill children at Addenbrooke's and The Rosie Hospital to stay together in our free 'Home from Home' accommodation at both Acorn and Chestnut Houses.

"As a charity, we rely entirely on voluntary donations to keep our 'Homes from Home' running. And to be nominated as a charity partner for three months will make a huge difference to so many families whose lives are thrown into turmoil when their child needs to undergo lifesaving treatment.

"On behalf of all the families we support, we'd like to say a huge thank you to Cambridge Building Society."

If you would like to find out more about The Sick Children’s Trust and how to get involved, please visit www.sickchildrenstrust.org.

To find out more about Cambridge Building Society, please visit: www.cambridgebs.co.uk.