Rainbow Trust to carry on vital work thanks to Barclays grant

Families in and around Greater Manchester with children who have a life-threatening condition will receive vital support thanks to a grant from Barclays to the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, which is based in Oldham.

The Barclay’s 100x100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme was launched in April to help people and communities most impacted by the pandemic, with Rainbow Trust being one of 100 UK charities each receiving £100K, allowing their vital work to continue at an immensely challenging time.

The grant will help Rainbow Trust to fund its tailored support to families with a seriously ill child in each of its six Care Team locations across England for three months.

This includes the Rainbow Trust’s North West Care Team based in Chambers Business Centre on Chapel Road in Oldham, which supports families across the North West of England.

Rainbow Trust provides expert practical and emotional support to families with a seriously ill child, by pairing each family with a specialist Family Support Worker. 

The coronavirus pandemic has made life much harder for the families supported by Rainbow Trust. When the pandemic first hit, 80% of families surveyed told Rainbow Trust their situation was worse or much worse than before. 

Due to the pandemic Rainbow Trust has innovated and adapted its service like never before.

When Family Support Workers could no longer be by a family’s side, they stepped in to give vital virtual support.

They delivered breast milk to isolated neonatal babies and helped families with the emotional strain of delayed treatments. 

Zillah Bingley, Chief Executive of Rainbow Trust, said: “We are very grateful to the Barclays 100x100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme, for supporting the work of Rainbow Trust through this incredibly generous donation.

"The families we support are already in crisis, and the pandemic only served to bring them greater uncertainty and isolation.

"Families often tell us that their Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker is one of the only trusted constants in their lives, helping them as they face uncharted territory and the unknown. 

“For vulnerable families to continue to benefit from our support, we urgently need all the help we can get.

"The pandemic resulted in a dramatic drop in our income and we do not expect to be able to recover these sums easily.

"It is only through the generosity of donors such as Barclays, that we will be able to continue to be there to support these families, in whatever way we can be of most help, whether that is in person, by telephone, or in other ways - and for as long as is possible. 

“On behalf of Rainbow Trust and the families we support, we sincerely thank you Barclays.”

Nigel Higgins, Barclays Chairman, said: “COVID-19 has created an unprecedented social and economic impact in the UK, with many experiencing greater hardship due to the crisis.

"Incredible charities such as Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity have been playing a vital role in the UK’s response to the pandemic, ensuring urgent help reaches those most in need of support.

"As a bank we have been doing all we can for our customers, clients and colleagues, and we hope that by partnering with Rainbow Trust and many other charities across the UK, collectively we can ensure that as many people as possible in the communities in which we live and work are supported through this crisis.”

Rainbow Trust is a national charity supporting families through its six care teams across England.

The charity is totally reliant on the generosity of the public.

Visit: rainbowtrust.org.uk to find out more.

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