News

The first Action for Sick Children Norah Rees Award was presented to Susan Bowes at the charity's conference at the University of Warwick in October. The award is makde for the best postgraduate dissertation from a nurse that contributes to the Action for Sick Chilren Millennium Charter. The runner-up was Lynne Forrester.

Courtesy of Paediatric Nursing.

The Report from Action For Sick Children's Conference, held on the 10th of October 2008, is now available.

Click here to download the full report.

Below are a selection of photographs from the event.

Dame Marion Roe, Emily Nguu - Nurse Tutor from Kenya, and ASC Chairman Pamela Barnes

Dame Marion with the Kenyan Nurses and ASC Chairman Pamela Barnes

Lorraine Finnegan and Pam Johnson - Dental Play Box

Dr Deepak Kalra, ASC Vice Chairman, with Dr Jane Coad and other speakers

Dame Marion Roe, Professor Peter Callery and ASC Chairman Pamela Barnes with other speakers and the prize winner of the Norah Rees Award, Susan Bowes

Photographs from the Annual General Meeting on the 27th September 2008.

AGM Trustees
From left to right: Dr Andy Coe, Dr Richard Wilson, Mrs Margaret Jeal, Mrs Sue Hooton (Now a co-opted trustee)

From left to right: Peter Sanders (new trustee), John Hendle (Honorary Treasurer)

Dr Deepak Kalra and Ms Jo Thorogood were reappointed as trustees.

Please note the annual general meeting will be held on:

Saturday 27^th September 2pm

at:

University Womens Club,

South Audley Street,

London.

The first Norah Rees Award will be presented on 10 October 2008 at the Action for Sick Children conference to be held at the University of Warwick.

For over 40 years Action for Sick Children has championed the cause of sick children, involving children, young people and their families in the planning and provision of their healthcare. Action for Sick Children wishes to celebrate the charity's part in helping to achieve high standards of service for children and to promote research and development in this field. Action for Sick Children has received a small legacy from the estate of the late Norah Rees. In order to acknowledge this gift, the charity has decided to create the Action for Sick Children Norah Rees Award for the best Master's dissertation from a nurse that furthers Action for Sick Children's aims and values.

What is the Norah Rees Award?
Action for Sick Children is offering a prize of £500 for the best Master's dissertation by a nurse.

Who is eligible?
All nurses who completed a dissertation as part of a Master's degree between June 2005 and 2008 can apply for the Norah Rees Award.

How can the award help?
The recipient of the Norah Rees Award will gain publicity for their work including the opportunity to present their study at the Action for Sick Children Annual Conference. The degree in which the Award winning dissertation is completed will also benefit from the prestige and publicity. Award winners will be able to include the Award on their C.V.s as national recognition of their work.

How will the winner be selected?
The Norah Rees Award will be presented for the best postgraduate dissertation that contributes to the Action for Sick Children Millennium Charter, incorporated into the European Association for Children in Hospital Charter.

Download the leaflet:

Entry form - information on award

MAWCH (The Manx Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital) was formed in 1970 as abranch of NAWCH and in 1986 it was registered as a Manx charity, whilst remaining affiliated to what is now Action for Sick Children.

Along with similar organisations, MAWCH exists to promote the welfare of sick children by campaigning for improved hospital facilities, attitudes and practices and by giving practical help for parents so that no sick child need be without the support of a parent, day or night. As some children's conditions require treatment by specialist units on the mainland, MAWCH provides emergency packs of necessities or parents who may have, at very short notice, to accompany an ill child to an offshore hospital. Often MAWCH provides subsistence money to help with the inevitable expenses that arise when having to be away from home. Support is also given to the hospital's "Saturday club" which enables children to become familiar with what may be involved in going into hospital. MAWCH works closely with both the Community Paediatric Nurse and the Play-leader in the Children's Ward.

The Chief fund raising even tis the annual Frog Frolic held on Castletown's Carnival day. Some 1500 plastic frogs are "sold" and, at the appointed time, are tipped into the Silverburn stream; the first three to reach the end mesh across the stream win prizes. It is a popular event which publicise what MAWCH does as well as bringing in money. The Association also receives generous gifts from time to time from a wide variety of donors. This has enabled MAWCH, in its turn, to donate money towards the new children's Hospice in teh Isle of Man - a much appreciated facility for terminally ill children and their families.

The Action for Sick Children Dental Play Box was launched on 14 November 2007 at the Hipper Holme Day Nursery, Halifax by Professor Tim Eden, President. It was a most successful event and congratulations to all concerned, including fund raisers from Corporate Direct Fund Raising and Lorraine who demonstrated the play box to the children. Our thanks to LHF in Leeds for raising the first full complement of funding for a dental play box.

1st Dental Playbox has been purchased by:

LHF Healthcare

Thank you - well done.

The Wedge Card is a new community discount card designed to bring individuals, local businesses and charities together under the "Think Local, Shop Local" banner. The aim of the Wedge card is to encourage people to support charities and local businesses to help build vibrant, thriving communities.

The Wedge Card costs £20 and voluntary organisations will receive £10* from each card purchased. The card is valid for one year and those who buy the card can access discounts and special offers from their local participating shops and businesses. So please purchase a wedge card or promote the wedge card in your business or shop and nomivate Action for Sick Children as your chosen charity.

http://www.wedgecard.co.uk

Action for Sick Children now requires 2 active volunteers / trustees who would represent the parent view point. After the induction the volunteers would attend meetings and visit healthcare settings on behalf of the charity. This could be in London or elsewhere in the country. Expenses are reinbursed - selection is by interview - trustees meetings are on Saturdays in London 5 times per year.

Would suit person with commitment to the cuase of Sick Children. Enquiries in writing with CV to Head office:

Action for Sick Children
36 Jacksons Edge Road
Disley
Stockport
SK12 2JL

The Trustees are delighted to welcome back the Northern Ireland Branch of Action for Sick Children. We look forward to working with the Branch towards high quality service for children and young people when in ill-health.

News for the website would be welcomed from other branches and members.

Please forward to pamela.barnes@actionforsickchildren.org

Have you heard about Give As You Earn (GAYE)? Did you know it is an easy and tax-free way to regularly donate to a charity (or charities) of your choice?

If you are an employee in the UK then your employer can arrange to automatically deduct from your salary any amount you specify and send it to your chosen charity. THis donation is tax-free. This means for the charity to receive £10 it can cost you only £7.80 (or £6 depending on what rate you pay tax). So you can ask to give 'more' if you intended to donate £10 yourself!

Many people are generous towards charities. Without them charities could not continue their good work. Regular giving is an efficient way to donate, both for you and for your charity. You can cease donations whenever you choose.

WHy not convert your good intention into a good deed? At the same time you will be denying the government tax on the donated amount. Now that can't be bad!

If you are a UK tax payer, and work for an employer, please consider giving regularly by GAYE to Action for Sick Children. You can find out more about GAYE by following the link below.

Thank you for your support.

GAYE
http://www.allaboutgiving.org/giveasyouearn/uk/index.cfm