The best way is to fill in our referral form online. Once this application has been made an assessment visit will be arranged where individual circumstances are discussed and paperwork is kept to a minimum.

If you would like to call to discuss or need help filling in the form, please see our contact us page for details.

Please check if we cover your area here

We can be contacted for support at any stage of illness from diagnosis, during treatment and into bereavement. Very importantly, there is no time limit to the care we provide. Visit our about and support for families sections to find out more about how we support

Yes, any person can refer but with the parent’s consent. Most of our families come to us via hospitals, clinics and other charities supporting the families. Visit our support for families section to apply for support.

Yes, a Family Support Worker will be allocated to you following assessment. Meet some of our Family Support Workers and see where we support.

Mandatory training including Child Protection, Health and Safety, Food Hygiene, First Aid, Infection Control, Moving and Handling and other training when required.

We will stay with a family until they feel they can cope without our support, sometimes for several years after a child dies. Care is provided to families, irrespective of circumstance, ethnicity, social background, nationality or religion. Those who need us most are often socially disadvantaged and many are single parent families with little or no extended family support network. Read more about what we do.

Yes, but you will be asked to pay for things like children’s outings.

If your Family Support Worker is available, they would be happy to transport you to an appointment. Read our about section to find out more about how we help.

Family Support Workers all have cars which allows them to transport families to hospital. These are able to accommodate wheelchairs and buggies in the boot space but the vehicles are not wheel chair accessible.

Yes. We work 24/7. Find out more about what we do and how we support.

We support families for as long as you need us. Read our stories for more information.

Our support is very flexible and we support when needed, tailoring support to your needs. We do try and work on a priority basis.

We work with families with children up to 18 years old.

Yes we do – we also have two Sibling Support Workers who just support siblings. Visit our about section for more information.

Yes. We have successfully worked with families of different cultures and backgrounds over the years. Read our stories.

Families are referred to Rainbow Trust from a number of sources provided the referral is with the knowledge and agreement of the family. Families can also refer themselves.

Yes we are.

We get a minimal percentage of funding from the government and the rest is raised through fundraising and from grant making trusts.

​Families who have a child or young person up to the age of 18 with a life threatening or terminal illness are eligible for our services.