The Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme is proud of its ongoing partnership with Bluebell Wood and here, the children’s hospice outlines its background and ethos.
What is Bluebell Wood?
Bluebell Wood is a children’s hospice that provides care and support to families who have a child or young person with a shortened life expectancy.
Where is the hospice?
The hospice is situated in North Anston, nestled away in six and a half acres and enjoying a private access road within a regenerated site.
What services does the hospice offer?
Our highly specialist care team look after children with a vast range of complex medical needs and we support the whole family on their life journey offering short respite breaks, day care provision, community support, crisis intervention and end of life treatment and care.
What are respite breaks?
Families often come to us exhausted as caring for a child with a life-limiting condition is a 24-hour, seven-day a week care, and that’s why we’re here to help. Bluebell Wood offers respite care to the whole family, giving them the opportunity to spend quality time together knowing their child is in safe hands. We give the families chance to recharge their batteries whilst being able to come and go from the hospice as they wish. Our house is a relaxed, fun and happy place to be, where brothers and sisters, mums and dads can enjoy the fun and games too. Our motto is ‘living with love and laughter’.
How many children can stay at the hospice?
Bluebell Wood provides eight beautifully appointed bedrooms for children and young people as well as accommodation for families. It also has two ‘end of life’ suites - self-contained accommodations in which families can stay after their child has passed away. Families can stay here until the funeral and our staff are also on hand to help in any way possible, including any funeral arrangements.
What geographical area does Bluebell Wood cover?
We cover all of South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, North Nottinghamshire and parts of North Lincolnshire.
What does it cost to run Bluebell Wood?
It costs over £3m a year to provide this vital service to families in the region.
Does the hospice receive any government funding?
Adult hospices in England receive on average 34 per cent of their funding from the government. However, children's hospices typically receive much less, on average 15 per cent of their running costs, although some receive next to nothing. Bluebell Wood receives less than five per cent.
How long has Bluebell Wood been open?
Fundraising for the hospice started in 1998 after the death of 11-year-old Richard Cooper, who had a rare degenerative disease and longed for care and support outside a hospital environment. The charity was established and community support to build a children’s hospice in South Yorkshire quickly forthcoming. Following significant fundraising and working with families in the community for two years, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice proudly opened its doors to children with life limiting conditions on 19 September 2008.
What facilities does Bluebell Wood have?
The hospice boasts a music room, messy play room, sensory room, cinema room, soft play area, teenage room and Jacuzzi. It is surrounded by beautiful, tranquil gardens including a Dragonfly Remembrance Garden which was built by Alan Titchmarsh and the team from ITV’s ‘Love Your Garden’.
How many staff work at Bluebell Wood?
We now have over 90 employees which includes the care team and administrative staff.
How many families does Bluebell Wood support?
Bluebell Wood currently looks after over 170 families.
How can I help Bluebell Wood?
By volunteering for us, fundraising, donating second hand items to our shops, making a cash donation, joining our lottery, attending one of our events or just telling others about us and spreading the word about our work.
Where are Bluebell Wood’s charity shops?
We have eight shops around the region, selling the very best in second hand goods and a variety of new items. Their locations are:
Sheffield, Rotherham, Dinnington, Bakewell, Wombwell, Worksop, Doncaster and Hellaby.
For further information on Bluebell Wood, CLICK HERE