OUR CLUB CHARITY FOR 2022-2025

We were delighted to welcome to our Club on 12 July 2022, Fundraiser Laura Kennedy to talk about the Croydon Health Charity (CHC) which we have chosen to support for the next three years, to 2025. (Photo from left: Vice-President John Cheetham, President Patricia Painting, President Elect Loraine Davis and CHC Fundraiser Laura Kennedy.)

CHC is Croydon Borough’s only charity dedicated to supporting our local NHS and improving the lives of staff and patients.

This is done by:

•      Refurbishing parts of our hospitals and community services.

•      Funding state-of-the-art equipment to improve diagnosis and clinical care.

•      Supporting life-changing research to pioneer new treatments.

•      Developing staff health and wellbeing projects.

Funding is always above and beyond statutory provision and the work is
far-reaching. For instance,

Paediatrics:

•      Music instruments to enhance and expand music therapy service.

•      Children’s play and therapeutic areas for Rainbow Children’s Unit.

•      Charity funded zen garden and sensory room.

•      Toys & resources eg, games and books.

•      Child-centred play supports a patient’s recovery and wellbeing.

•      Dedicated paediatric oncology fund.

•      Additional specialist staff training.

Indigo Team

•      Support children and families through bereavement, trauma and change.

•      Creative Arts Psychotherapists; Drama & Music Therapists; Family Link Worker.

•      Bereavements can include sudden unexpected deaths eg, suicide or crime related deaths.

•      Music therapy – children can sing together, play instruments, listen to music, dance, create electronic tracks.

•      Support takes place at home, hospital or school.

•      Team is unique to Croydon, London and even a large part of England!

Impact

•      Help children who are feeling isolated and lonely and may be struggling to connect with peers.

•      The team can help overcome a child’s fears eg, needles, and grow their confidence. Therapy allows them to be free to be themselves.

Making a difference to staff and patients – 
Examples of funding:

•      ‘Summer Sessions’ 2021 – supporting staff health and wellbeing,

•      Upgrades to staff rest areas and kitchens as well as new wellbeing spaces,

•      Additional medical equipment eg, bladder scanners and AMU Ultrasound.

•      Covid-19 service recognition badges.

•      Christmas staff lunch bags.

•      Educational resources eg, books and wellbeing leaflets.

•      Furniture to support patient activity areas.

•      Additional training and development opportunities.

•      Resources eg, musical instruments to support Indigo music therapy service.