Our Family Support Workers provide a lifeline to families.

When time is limited by a serious illness, time becomes more precious than ever. ​Rainbow Trust pairs each family with a dedicated Family Support Worker to help them face and make the most of each new day. Meet some of the Family Support Workers who enable us to support families caring for a seriously ill child.

Meet Shelly from the North East team

Shelly is a Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker in the North East Care team and shares her typical week with us.

"I love working as a Family Support Worker for Rainbow Trust! Everyday is different and although it can be very hard and sad at times, it can also be fun too.
"I love to see the children happy and smiling and having some normality away from their hospital life. Working with families caring for a seriously ill child and watching what they go through daily really puts life into perspective. They really are all superheroes.”

Meet Jodie from the Essex Team

Jodie is a Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker in the Essex Care team and shares her typical week with us.

"My week as a Family Support Worker starts in the previous week. Towards the end of the week on a Thursday or Friday I will check my diary and see which appointments are booked in for the following week. I will send a text to the families I have booked in and just check that everything is still going ahead as planned for my visit. This gives them the opportunity to let me know if any changes have happened and if they need to change any details with me for the visit."

Meet Georgia from the Greater Manchester team

Georgia is a Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker in the Greater Manchester Care team and shares her typical week with us.

I’m a Family Support Worker in the Greater Manchester team, and I joined Rainbow Trust in February of 2022. I jumped at the chance to be a family support worker for Rainbow Trust to make a difference to families by providing whatever support I can to them through the difficult times they are experiencing.

I always say if I can make a difference to one person, I’ve done my job, and it’s a job I love doing!

Meet Michelle from the Southampton Team

Michelle is a Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker in the Southampton Care team and shares her typical week with us.

I love how varied and rewarding my role is.

It is great being able to make a difference to the lives of families who are struggling or in crisis.  Sometimes the support to us can seem small but the impact on the families is massive.

Meet Ellen from the South West team

Ellen is a Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker in the South West Care team and shares her typical week with us.

"I joined Rainbow Trust in October 2020 after working as a Primary School teacher. I was looking for a role that would give me more opportunities to support children's emotional wellbeing and becoming a Family Support Worker was the perfect change for me."

What do you love most about your job?

"The support I provide to families doesn't only help seriously ill children, it has a positive impact on their siblings and parents too. I find it really rewarding to know that the work I do helps to make difficult situations families are going through that little bit easier and I always look forward to the smiles I see on children's faces when I arrive to play with them."

Meet Jayne from the London and South East team

Jayne is a Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker in the London and South East Care team and shares her typical week with us.

"I started working for Rainbow Trust in September 2007 so I am celebrating my 15th anniversary this year. The families I have supported and currently support are all very different: they have different needs, the children’s conditions are varied, the families’ situations are diverse and living with childhood illness and the trauma and stress this may cause manifests in many contrasting ways."
"I like to look after and comfort people and that is what makes caring for and supporting seriously ill children and their families so rewarding to me."

Meet Sammii from the Reading team

Sammii is a Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker in the Reading Care team and shares her typical week with us.

It was quite a busy week. Referrals to the Reading Care team are increasing and our caseload is growing which shows how much our support is needed in the area.
The job of a Family Support Worker is very rewarding. Families trust us to support them with the difficulties and challenges encompassed with having a seriously ill child, I feel this is such a privilege.
When I go home I enjoy walks and cuddles with my six month old puppy Frank.

Meet Megan from the Liverpool Team

Megan is a Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker in the Liverpool Care team and shares her typical week with us.

I have been a Family Support Worker for a year having previously worked in education for fourteen years. This job is such a special job, and you go home every day knowing that you have made a difference. It is such a special feeling working with families as they are going through the unimaginable and knowing that you can help in some small way is amazing.