Children’s Respite Trust

Like most Charities it’s been a testing year for us at the Children’s Respite Trust, but we’re delighted to have been able to help many families nonetheless.

The Trust believes no family should be left to care for a disabled child alone and so we provide respite, both at our Day-Care Centre in Uckfield and throughout Sussex and parts of Kent in children’s own homes.

Back in March at the start of the pandemic, we were unsure how we were going to be able to continue to provide a service, if the children couldn’t come to the Centre. We began by sending out our “Smile Packs” to families, full of sensory activities, crafts and stimulating games, all tailored to each child’s needs. We offered help with shopping and just wanted to be there at the end of a phone to remind families they are not alone.

Soon afterwards, we received the news that care provision such as ours was deemed an essential service and we were given the greenlight to restart our community care, albeit with significant restrictions. The families were so grateful.

If you have faced difficulty adjusting to the new normal, just imagine how it must have been for a family with a child with a significant learning disability. Routine is often vital to managing their challenging behaviour, but suddenly life looks nothing like a familiar routine. The knowledge that a friendly face, who knows their needs is visiting, can be such a lifeline.

Even if it is for just a couple of hours a week, respite gives people the chance to do something that the rest of us take for granted. It could be doing some shopping or a household chore, or even just getting some well-earned rest. When we ask families how they have spent their time, more often than not they have dedicated it to their other children, who can often miss-out on so much, because of the extent of the attention needed by their disabled sibling.

We’ve used the time that the Centre has been closed to good effect by refurbishing it, including installing a new lift and putting in new flooring. But we were all so desperate to hear the sound of children laughing and playing in the Centre again, so it was wonderful to finally welcome children back in October.

We celebrated 10 years of the Children’s Respite Trust in 2020 and it should have culminated in a grand ball, but as with many events, celebrations had to be put on hold. Usually, we’d raise around half of our annual income from events, so we were delighted when our golf day was able to go ahead in October. There were many restrictions making it very different from our usual Golf Day, but thanks to the generosity of many Sussex and Kent businesses it raised over £10,000.

We have to assume that things are going to be different for some time to come and so the Trust is excited about events for 2021, where plans are afoot for fundraising activities that can be successful in spite of future lock-downs, such as our recently launched “Friends of the Children’s Respite Trust” scheme and our forthcoming Virtual Ball. One event planned for April can continue even if we are restricted to small “bubbles”. It is called the Racetrack Run and is a five-day rally linking all of the UKs motor-racing circuits starting at Goodwood and including a dinner at Silverstone.

None of the Trust’s work is possible without the support of the local community and so it is vital that we continue to make a success of the events that we do manage to hold. We welcome anyone wishing to get involved, whether as a “Friend of the Children’s Respite Trust”, a volunteer or simply attending the Virtual Ball or Racetrack Run. Simply visit www.crtcharity.org to find out more.