Date published: 06 April 2016 by Digital Team

We’re thrilled to announce that we have launched a new Family Support Group at The Olive Tree Cancer Support Centre at Crawley Hospital in West Sussex.

The group hopes to be a network for families supported by Rainbow Trust in Sussex and Surrey caring for a life threatened or terminally ill child and aims to provide the perfect opportunity for families to meet new people and for children to enjoy a range of activities including arts and crafts and outdoor play.

Drop-in services are beneficial to not just the sick child but the entire family, offering a place for support to all family members, including siblings and parents. Families can find themselves struggling with the strain of everyday life whilst caring for a sick child. Services like this one provide a well-deserved break, giving families a place to go for support, socialising and a sense of normality.

“We have been very fortunate to gain access to the facilities that this centre offers including a large room for play, sitting room for parents, a secure garden and complimentary therapy rooms. This is to give families the opportunity to meet other families in similar circumstances while their children have the opportunity to enjoy themselves with supervised activities. We will be able to offer families time to share their personal experiences in a calm, safe environment. We also plan to start complimentary therapy sessions for the parents very soon.” Christina, Family Support Manager, Surrey Care Team

The Family Support Group is taking place the first Saturday of every month from 10.30am- 12.30pm. Refreshments are provided and there is free disabled parking available.

If you have any questions please contact Surrey Care Team on 01372 220 111.