WellChild Gives A Helping Hand

Main Category: Muscular Dystrophy / ALS
Article Date: 19 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The national children's charity WellChild has developed the Helping Hands scheme to provide one off practical home improvement projects that have a positive impact on the quality of life of seriously ill children and young people. Projects range from a full bedroom makeover providing beds and storage as well as decorating the room top to bottom, to converting a garden into a fun, appealing, safe and accessible play area.

WellChild understands that caring for a child or young person with a medical condition or disability brings unique demands, stresses and disruption to daily life that affects the whole family. Often parents/guardians are unable to tackle larger household tasks such as decorating a child's bedroom or making the garden accessible and stimulating, as there simply is not enough time or resources to make these plans a reality.

WellChild uses the support of volunteer teams from local companies to carry out these projects all across the UK, and they aim to help as many families as they possibly can.

Young Abir had a bedroom makeover with the support of Helping Hands and the kind volunteers from Goldman Sachs, this is what his mum had to say:

"We are so pleased with the outcome of the project, to have done so much work in so little time is amazing. We have not seen Abir respond to his surroundings so positively for 2 years, he is reaching and touching and looking all the time, it is amazing, thank you so much."

WellChild are also looking to provide similar support in larger institutions such as children's hospitals, care centres and specialist schools.

If you would like further information about how Helping Hands could help with your project then please contact our Helping Hands project manager bt email helpinghands@wellchild.org.uk. Alternatively please visit our website athttp:// www.wellchild.org.uk

Muscular Dystrophy Campaign