Westwater Advocates congratulates CHAS on 30 years of support for families

janemorrisonNews

We’re delighted to announce that Westwater Advocates have chosen to continue supporting CHAS throughout 2022.

Lara MacDonald, Senior Corporate Partnerships Executive at CHAS said: “We’re delighted that Westwater Advocates have chosen Children’s Hospices Across Scotland – better known as CHAS – to be their Charity Partner for 2022. This year we celebrate a major milestone; 30 years of supporting children with life-shortening conditions and their families across the whole of Scotland. Therefore, there couldn’t be a more significant time for Westwater Advocates to support the work that CHAS do by raising funds and awareness throughout this year.”

CHAS was officially founded in February 1992 by a group of pioneering volunteers and parents of children with life-shortening conditions who previously had to travel to England to access children’s hospice services. For 30 years now, families across Scotland have been able to turn to CHAS for world-class emotional, practical and medical support. This care begins from the point a child’s condition is diagnosed or recognised, and extends right the way through to either bereavement, or transition to adult services.

CHAS staff and their dedicated volunteer force make a difference by offering integrated palliative and end of life care and respite for the whole family through: their two hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch; their CHAS at Home service supporting families in their own homes; and their teams working in every children’s hospital across the country. This is made possible through working in partnership with NHS and Local Authority colleagues.

In response to the pandemic, CHAS established the world’s first virtual children’s hospice, making sure that, regardless of where families are in Scotland, they can still count on CHAS’ vital support.

CHAS make things possible so that children have the freedom to be themselves, play outside, laugh, and have treasured moments of joy. They are there when needed most – in really tough days, at end of life, and after a child dies.

There are currently over 16,700 children in Scotland living with a life-shortening condition, and that number is rising. CHAS is determined to reach every family in Scotland who needs them, but the hard truth is that right now, CHAS is not able to do that. Quite simply they need to expand their services, and to do that, they require continued support to raise vital funds and awareness.

Janys Scott QC, Stable Director at Westwater Advocates said: “We are full of admiration for the remarkable work of CHAS and pleased to do what we can to assist.”