For nearly thirty years, CHAS has delivered world-class care for babies, children and young people (aged 0-21 years) with life-shortening conditions and their families across Scotland.
As the national specialist provider of hospice care to children, they offer highly personalised care in hospice, hospital, at home and virtually that begins at diagnosis and extends right through to either transition to adult services or bereavement.
Funds raised through the partnership will enable the vital development and expansion of their outreach service, CHAS at Home, and help the charity on its ambitious mission of reaching every child and family that needs their help in communities across Scotland.
CHAS at Home visits are entirely tailored to each family. Usually lasting 3-4 hours, they provide all the essential care that families would experience in a hospice in the comfort and safety of their own home. This can include respite, fun activities, nursing care, physiotherapy and, most importantly, the emotional support families need to create wonderful memories with their children.
Together, CHAS and Scotmid want to ensure that no family is alone through the terrifying heartbreak of knowing their child will die young.
Three other children’s hospices across Scotmid’s trading areas will also benefit from funds raised: Jigsaw, Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and St Oswald’s Hospice.
Staff are already busy making plans for in-store, virtual and sporting challenges to support the charities. They have set themselves the ambitious target of raising £200,000 over nine months. The campaign will use the hashtag #ourcommunitiescare
John Brodie, Chief Executive of Scotmid Cooperative, said: “We are really excited to announce our Charity of the Year partnership with CHAS. The target of this year’s partnership is to raise money to help the charity reach every child and family that needs their help in communities across Scotland.
“As a community retailer, it is an ambition and cause that will resonate with our staff, members and customers.
“There are a lot of plans already in the pipeline, and despite the challenging times we all find ourselves in, we look forward to talking to members, customers and staff about how they can help us to raise as much money as possible for CHAS.”
Criona Knight, CHAS Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Scotmid and look forward to continuing to build this transformational partnership. Working together will undoubtedly help us on our mission of reaching every child and family in Scotland that needs our help.
“Funds raised through this partnership will help develop and further expand our CHAS at Home service – a service that we deliver all across Scotland that has been a lifeline to those that we support, especially in a year where many families have felt isolated and alone.
“With the help of Scotmid, we will be able to reach families that need us in the most remote parts of Scotland and ensure that everything from nursing care and physiotherapy to emotional support and respite is provided in the comfort of their own home.”