The Sick Children's Trust is the charity that gives families with a sick child in hospital one less thing to worry about by giving them a place to stay and someone to talk to free of charge just minutes from their child's bedside. The charity is working towards a future in which every family with a seriously ill child in hospital can stay together close to their sick child's bedside. The Sick Children's Trust was founded in 1982 by Dr Jon Pritchard, working at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Professor James Malpas, from St Bart's Hospital. They saw first-hand the families who could not stay near their sick children. Some were sleeping on mattresses on the floor or in chairs, as there was nowhere for them to stay. In 1984, The Sick Children's Trust opened its first "Home from Home", Rainbow House, in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. It has since opened another nine houses in

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

and

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

. On average, two million children every year require treatment and often must go to specialist hospitals far from home. Keeping families together significantly improves the recovery of seriously-ill children. The Sick Children's Trust provides families with a sick child free high-quality "Home from Home" accommodation, as well as practical and emotional support, so that families can be there for their child. The President of The Sick Children's Trust is

Michael Crawford Michael Patrick Smith, (born 19 January 1942), known professionally as Michael Crawford, is an English tenor, actor and comedian. Crawford is best known for playing both the hapless Frank Spencer in the sitcom ''Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'' an ...

CBE. He has been hugely active and supportive since 1987. One of the "Homes from Home", Crawford House, in Newcastle, is named in his honour.

References

External links

* Children's charities based in the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1982 1982 establishments in the United Kingdom {{UK-charity-stub