Rainbows Hospice Gardens
Rainbows cares for hundreds of families every year who have a baby, child or young person with a serious or terminal illness that means that their lives will be shorter than most. We support every baby, child and young person to fulfil their potential, and help families make the most of every precious moment, while capturing memories and keepsakes to treasure. We’re here for the whole family, offering comfort and compassion during tough times, providing the highest level of professional care until the end, and support after. Simply put, we’re here to brighten short lives, and support families, wherever they are.
Project Overview
We are transforming the Rainbows Hospice Gardens in Loughborough because we believe they should provide a space for adventure, play without barriers, fun, family time, and unforgettable memories. To achieve this, we need bespoke, accessible equipment that meets the needs of our children.
As part of our planned Adventure Green outdoor area, we aim to install an exceptional swing that is fully wheelchair accessible. We need to raise £8,000 to help cover the cost of purchasing this amazing piece of specialised play equipment for our gardens.
The Full Story
Adventure Green is a part of our £1.2 million garden transformation project. This initiative is driven by the significant positive impact it will have on our families, providing an incredible multi-functional outdoor space to meet their needs while expanding our hospice facilities.
After many years, our gardens have become unfit for purpose. Therefore, we are giving the grounds the makeover they desperately need and that our families deserve. We are transforming what was once a vast area with underused potential into a haven filled with bespoke, tranquil, adventurous, playful, and sensory spaces to cater to the needs of our families.
Adventure Green, where the swing will be located, will offer opportunities for adventure and play. The inclusion of this swing will allow our Rainbows children, who have serious health conditions and often require wheelchairs, to play alongside their siblings, bringing joy and creating precious family memories.
We want every child to enjoy outdoor play in a totally inclusive environment, free of barriers, allowing them to embrace a spirit of play and adventure.
At Rainbows, we envision that as a child approaches the end of their life, they should receive the help and support necessary to create treasured memories while surrounded by comfort, dignity, and love. This vision is what drives the transformation of our gardens, which will provide moments of joy and connection for hundreds of families each year for many years to come.
These gardens are more than just a place; they are spaces filled with love and opportunities for memory-making, where families can come together and cherish their final moments.
Impact
Each year, we provide care for over 750 babies, children, and young people, along with their families. They will have access to our gardens to enjoy. This wheelchair-accessible swing, part of our garden transformation project, will benefit hundreds of families every year for many years to come. You can find visuals on our crowdfunding page.
Check out the live projects we're supporting
Alex Wish Duchenne Virtual Ward Project
Alex's Wish is a charity dedicated to conquering Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. A progressive, life-limiting muscle-wasting disease that affects 1 in every 3,500 boys born. We are a family-run charity, set-up by Alex's parents 13 years ago after discovering there is not enough funding going into medical research to find treatments and a cure for those living with Duchenne in the UK.
Forever Stars
Forever Stars is a registered charity run by volunteers, dedicated to supporting families experiencing baby loss, including early miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal loss. We offer compassionate assistance from the time families are in the hospital and throughout their lifelong journey of grief. Our services are available to all family members, regardless of when they seek support, whether immediately after their loss or many years later.
Hounds for Heros
We’re a small passionate team dedicated to supporting those who have served or are serving our country, who have become disabled through injury or illness. Our experienced trainers, volunteers, and staff work together to provide life-changing assistance dogs that offer not only physical support but emotional strength and independence.
