Examples of ways your pennies help
A burn injury is for life. The scars are physical as well as psychological and can present life long challenges. The Children’s Burns Trust aim to make those challenges easier to bear and to help children and young people to grow up and lead as happy and healthy a life as possible.
In spring and autumn each year, a very special family weekend takes place in Cumbria. The Children’s Burns Trust (working together, with The Fire Fighters’ Charity) provide the opportunity for six families with burn injured children to enjoy the facilities at the Jubilee Therapy Centre in Penrith, visit the surrounding countryside, and most importantly, to receive help and support from burn care professionals – outside the hospital environment. Money raised through Pennies will fund these Family Focus Weekends in 2011.
Two programmes are offered during the course of the three days. Clinical Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists help parents to look at burn scarring and treatment, coping with family stress and relaxation skills. Advice is also available on subjects such as school reintegration, burn camps, scar therapy and returning to normal routines. Staff at The Fire Fighters’ Charity Jubilee Centre provide complementary therapies including massage, reiki, reflexology and Indian head massage to help parents relax and enjoy their weekend away.
The children’s programme includes art and craft sessions, circus skills and free play. Burn care professionals, CBT and Jubilee staff join to provide the enormously popular family pool sessions. For many of the children this is a rare opportunity for them to swim in a “safe” environment when no-one will comment on their scars.
The weekend starts on Friday with a trip to a nearby farm and adventure park. In addition to the programmes that run on Saturday and Sunday, an entertainer, a quiz and special dinner are provided.
Feedback from the families and staff who have participated in the weekends since they started in 2005 shows that they find the weekend to be an extremely positive experience. The benefits reported include learning new skills (to help their burn injured child and themselves), and having the opportunity to meet other families who are experiencing similar situations.
Alison Tweddle from Children’s Burns Trust says “We are extremely pleased that this programme has gone from strength to strength over the last 6 years. We are indebted to The Fire Fighters’ Charity for providing the excellent facilities at the Jubilee Therapy Centre, and extend our sincere thanks to the staff and volunteers from the growing number of participating NHS burns services.”
