Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity provides practical and emotional support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness, from diagnosis, through treatment to bereavement, for as long as the family asks for help. They do this in partnership with medical, health and social professionals. Rainbow Trust’s work is carried out by regional teams of family support workers, who give 24 hour non-medical care to families in their own homes.

They also run two respite homes, one in Surrey and one in Northumberland, for families who can stay for a much needed break. Rainbow Trust was the very first charity to receive funding from BWCF. Barbara had heard about the work done by Rainbow Trust and contacted them in February 2002. Chris Banks and Barbara visited them in March to learn more, including a visit to the Surrey respite home. Rainbow Trust requested help to establish a family support team in Swindon to enable them to cover areas of the country that they had not previously been able to.

Following review of a formal grant proposal from Rainbow Trust, BWCF agreed to fund the establishment of the new Swindon team over a three year period and earmarked funding of £312,049 to cover the first three year’s costs. The first £25,000 was donated in July 2002. The Swindon team now has three full time members and is supporting 26 families.