Over 370,000 children supported by Rockinghorse during 2023

Since the beginning of the year, Rockinghorse has supported an amazing 380,000 children throughout Sussex.

For the last 56 years Rockinghorse Children’s Charity has been supporting sick and disabled children across Sussex. It supports babies, children and young people, along with their families, at The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and The Trevor Mann Baby Unit in Brighton and all of the specialist children’s wards and baby units throughout Sussex.

And during the last year the charity has supported 380,000 children across the county.

This figure includes 30,000 children who have been to the Accident and Emergency department throughout the year who have benefitted from toys and games in the waiting areas to help pass the time, 3D goggles and interactive technology to distract them from a painful procedure, or support from the Rockinghorse funded Youth Worker for young people struggling with their mental health and wellbeing.

It also includes the 725 premature babies who have been supported with specialist medical equipment such as the Rockinghorse funded neonatal ventilator which prevents babies having to be transferred to London for the treatment they need.

And it includes the 68 individual projects that the charity has funded.

Projects like toys, books and craft materials that offer children a distraction from scary procedures, a relief from the boredom of being in hospital a long time, or a way to just feel like their normal selves again.

Equipment like Dinamap monitors that let staff easily and accurately assess patients’ blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels and temperature. Activities like sea swimming and art therapy courses that help children manage their feelings around a long-term health condition.

And ground-breaking research into how genetics play a part in how children with asthma respond to treatment and how more personalised medication can better help control their symptoms.

It also includes funding people with specialist skills who can provide specific, additional skills to a hospital team or department, can help fill a gap for children and families that the NHS simply aren’t able to provide, such as a specialist Oncology Psychologist to support young cancer patients.

Thank you

But absolutely none of this help, none of these life-improving activities, none of this life-saving equipment, and none of these life-changing people, would be there if it weren’t for the support that the charity receives from thousands of supporters within the local community.

This means individuals, schools, community groups and local businesses fundraising in hundreds of different ways from netball matches to sponsored walks, Easter Egg donations to rubbish collections. This list is endless, like the charity’s appreciation of every single person who has taken part in any fundraising during the year.

Rockinghorse CEO Donna Holland said: “What the local community has done for Rockinghorse during the last year has been absolutely amazing. It’s meant that doctors, nurses, support staff and project organisers have been able to provide babies, children and young people with the support they need to thrive, be happy and enjoy being children.

“So, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the businesses and community groups, challenge participants and individuals who have taken so much of their time and effort to help support us this year.”

www.rockinghorse.org.uk