Supporting the Children's Charity, Ty-Hafan
Each year the pupils at St John's College participate in a number of fundraising events to support the Ty-Hafan Children's Hospice in Sully, S Wales. The 'Wear a Christmas Jumper' event has become a really enjoyable feature in the school calendar. The partnership has developed with members of Ty-Hafan visiting the school to talk to the children about the really important work that goes on at the hospice. Ty-Hafan offer the chance for our Sixth Form to visit and gain valuable work experience and volunteering opportunities.
Some useful information about Ty-Hafan:
In 2019, there were 3,655 babies and children living with a life shortening condition in Wales, i.e., 1 in 172 children under 18, representing an increase of over 25% in the preceding decade. In 2019, 53% of children in Wales (0-17 years) who died had an underlying life-limiting condition recorded.[1]
For nearly 25 years Tŷ Hafan, based on the coast near Sully, has been there as a lifeline for those children and families who need palliative and end of life care. Experts in caring for children with complex and rare conditions, the charity supports the child and their entire family from referral, when Palliative Care Consultants determine that the young person is expected to die in childhood, through end of life and beyond. Services include clinical care, play and music therapy, family wellbeing support including sibling therapy, transition support (for those who live into adulthood) and bereavement care, delivered at the hospice and in the community across Wales. Tŷ Hafan is a happy place, where lots of memories are created during the child’s short life, but the charity is also there to help the family when the unimaginable happens. Currently 352 children are in Tŷ Hafan’s care from regions across South- mid- and West Wales.
Tŷ Hafan is an independent charity, funded almost exclusively by the generosity of the Welsh public. The annual running costs of care are £5.6 million, a number that is ever increasing due to the cost-of-living crisis. Only c. 10% of funds come from the Welsh Government and, contrary to popular misconception, Tŷ Hafan is not part of the NHS, albeit the charity provides services that are otherwise unavailable. You can find more information here: Tŷ Hafan - Children's Hospice (tyhafan.org);
[1] Fraser L, Jarvis S, Bedendo A, 2023, Children in Wales requiring palliative care: Trends in prevalence and complexity 2009-2019.
Aims
To help raise much needed funds for the Hospice.
Background
Parents at St John's have connections with Ty-Hafan and approached the school to see if we could help raise funds. The school has been raising funds for the past 3 years and the partnership has developed where the children at the school are able to appreciate the amazing work that goes on at the hospice.
Resources
Pupils and parents get involved in a variety of fund raising activities including the Christmas Jumper day.
Impact
The funds go towards the costs involved in the daily running of the hospice which are considerable.
Pupil Involvement
All pupils at the school 3 to 18 years.
Frequency
Usually 2 events annually.
