The Children’s Respite Trust was delighted to receive an award through the Millionaire Street Grant Fund last year, recognising us as a local cause and providing significant support for our work with children with disabilities and additional needs.
The funding, raised by players of the Postcode Lottery and awarded by the Postcode Community Trust, provided the equivalent of around half of the total staffing costs for our care team over the year. Our care team are at the heart of everything we do and this is best demonstrated in this parent's comment:
“The non-judgemental, welcoming environment and culture at CRT has been EVERYTHING! My son has been allowed to be himself within firm, clear and caring boundaries and has come so far. I have always felt understood and like I can talk to staff about any issues we are facing. I have been heard, accepted, understood and supported. The willingness to go out of your way… still makes me well-up with gratitude.”
The team's commitment creates an environment where children feel accepted, families feel understood and every small step forward is celebrated.
Over the following 12 months, we continued to deliver our nursery, holiday respite care, family events and Siblings Groups, while successfully relaunching our After School Clubs. In fact, thanks to the financial stability provided by the award, we were able to relaunch our After School Clubs with double the opening hours originally anticipated, increasing from two to four afternoons each week. Rather than spending months raising the funds needed simply to maintain our existing services, this support gave us the flexibility to build on our work and reach more families.
Making a difference to children and their families
The children supported by CRT may have physical disabilities, learning disabilities, neurodevelopmental conditions or complex medical needs. Two thirds have more than one of these needs, and many require round-the-clock care from their parents. For many families, respite care is more than just a few hours away. It provides parents with the opportunity to rest, recharge and spend time with other family members, knowing their child is safe, supported and enjoying themselves.
Feedback from families highlights the difference this support makes:
The impact on children and siblings: 100% enjoyed attending CRT, 93% gained confidence, 73% improved their communication skills and 80% made new friends.
The impact on parents: 100% felt CRT was meeting, or had met, the needs they sought support for, 93% reported better mental health and 93% felt less stressed.
These figures reflect the importance of having somewhere children can build relationships, develop their independence and simply enjoy being themselves, while their families receive the breathing space they so often need.
Thank you to Postcode Lottery players
Receiving this award at the beginning of the financial year gave us something incredibly valuable: the confidence to plan ahead, protect our services and look for opportunities to do more.
Thanks to Postcode Lottery players, we have been able to strengthen our care team, expand our After School Clubs and continue providing essential respite for families across Sussex. We are incredibly grateful for this support and for the difference it continues to make to the children and families we serve.
