Helen & Douglas House Princes Risborough

Today is International Youth Day and today we’re shining a light on the amazing children and teens from our siblings’ clubs, and our teen youth group.

At Helen & Douglas House, we love nothing more than embracing our inner child. From day trips on the Thames, games days, weekend camps, sleepovers and new unique experiences like beekeeping, we want to ensure the children and teens come away feeling happy, refreshed, confident and more resilient.

“I enjoy connecting with people like me. I enjoy the atmosphere and activities arranged by the amazing team, made even better by the supportive staff” – ‘Stu’, a regular to our Network Saturday’s youth group

We’d like to also thank the Youth and Transition team, the Siblings team and everyone who volunteers their time to help make a difference to the teens and siblings we care for. A day out and a space to connect with others makes the world of difference to these young people’s lives. It couldn’t be done without you all 🧡

Birthday’s, Banjo the pony and a baking bonanza!

Last month, our Stay and Play session was bustling with lots of fun activities and special guests! The theme for the day was baking so the children and the play team all got their hands dirty with food themed arts and crafts and baking 9 rounds of delicious cookies!

The children also had a visit from Banjo the pony and his handler Sharon from Ollie and Friends who surprised them all with lots of strokes and cuddles. It was also Sienna’s birthday, so Banjo’s visit made her day extra special!

We’d like to say a special thanks to the team from Ollie and Friends Therapy and Party Ponies who make regular visits to the hospice. Your visits add a little bit of magic to the children’s day at the hospice – it means so much 🧡

They smashed it! Daryl and his friends, Team Jago, conquered not just 1, but all 3 peaks in 24 hours last weekend and raised over £11.5k for Helen & Douglas House – they are all !

Their incredible efforts taking on the peaks and raising such a huge amount of money is testament to the incredibly loving community little Jago has by his side. We’re in no doubt he would be very proud of his daddy and his friends 🧡

Who's been loving the heat recently? Well, we're turning it up even more!

Join us on October 19th at Tilsley Park in Abingdon for another one of our sizzling Firewalk events!

🔥 Face the flames
🔥 Walk across coals over 1000 degrees
🔥 Raise money for local terminally ill children
🔥 Be trained by the legendary Scott Bell, a two-time Guinness World Record holder for the greatest distance walked on fire!

Are you as brave as last year’s participants?

🔗 Sign up now and become the ultimate firewalker - https://hdh.org.uk/firewalk-sign-up

The keys are in hand, the rails are ready, and we’re adding the final touches! 🛍

Come celebrate the grand opening of our new Helen & Douglas House charity shop in Marlborough this week!

📅 Thursday 8th August, 11am

📌 114 High Street, Marlborough, SN8 1LT

We can't wait to see you there!

Looking for a role with impact? Become our Champion Volunteer & use your enthusiasm to shout about the vital work we do. We're offering flexibility & the ability to build positive, meaningful relationships within the Helen & Douglas House community

Apply - https://hdh.org.uk/ChampionVolunteer

🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟

We’re excited to shine a spotlight on Chloe, one of our fantastic Play Leaders at Helen & Douglas House! Chloe has successfully completed her Makaton course with The Makaton Charity, qualifying her as a Makaton tutor. She can now teach other staff at the hospice Makaton Levels 1-4, enhancing communication with our children and young people.

Chloe will also be able to offer taster sessions to families in the future, teaching basic signs to use at home for better communication and continuity of care.

Makaton is a unique language program that uses symbols, signs, and speech to enable the children in our care to communicate. There are lots of wonderful benefits of teaching Makaton to children at Helen & Douglas House, including:

🤚 Giving children a voice
🤚 Reducing frustration
🤚 Opening up opportunities for making choices
🤚 Understanding children’s needs
🤚 Increasing children’s confidence when they are misunderstood
🤚 Enhancing and promoting speech development

For children who can’t sign back, Makaton still aids in their understanding. The more it is used, the more children will comprehend and pick up on it.

Join us in congratulating Chloe on this incredible achievement! She has worked so hard and everyone at Helen & Douglas House is super proud of her! 🎉👏

Today is a huge day for Daryl and his eight friends as they all begin their 3 peaks challenge! They’ll be climbing 3 of the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales and all in just 24 hours to raise vital funds for Helen & Douglas House.

Daryl and his friends are taking on this feat for Daryl's son Jago who is cared for at the hospice. Jago is just a year old and has an extremely rare genetic condition called CACNA1E which means there is no cure and his lifespan is uncertain. Despite this, Daryl believes with the right care, he can defy the odds and vows to never give up hope. He said “Helen & Douglas House is invaluable to us, and we feel so grateful to have such a brilliant network available to us. They have given us the chance to make the most of our time with Jago, helping to create memories as a family and ensure Jago’s short life is the best he can possibly live.”

We want to wish the best of luck to Daryl and his friends for their climb 🧡

🌟 Dearest charity shoppers, we have some very exciting news for you! 🌟

We're thrilled to announce the grand opening of our brand new Helen & Douglas House Marlborough charity shop opening on Thursday 8th August at 11am! 🎉

Join us in the picturesque town of Marlborough in Wiltshire, and be part of this special event. Enjoy refreshments and be the first to shop our fantastic collection of clothing, including designer labels such as Ralph Lauren, Reiss, Hobbs, Joules, and many more. Plus, discover stunning, high-quality homeware to refresh your homes. 🛍️

Don't miss out on the chance to find some amazing treasures and support a wonderful cause. We can't wait to see you there and celebrate with our incredible local community!

Date: Thursday 8th August, 11am
Location: 114 High Street, Marlborough, SN8 1LT

Today is International Friendship Day, and we're celebrating the wonderful friendships and community created here at Helen & Douglas House.

🧡 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬: Families facing similar situations can meet up, offering support and advice.

🧡 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧: The children create joyful memories together at our Network Saturday events, sibling support group activities, and through play at the hospice.

🧡 𝐏𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐨𝐠: The children also bond with Bertie, the PAT dog, who visits to provide comfort and companionship.

These connections offer families a supportive community that truly understands their journey. The friendships formed here give children the chance to experience the magic of childhood.

Share your friendships in the comments below. Let's spread love and show how friendship can make a world of difference.

Happy 14th Birthday to our Helen & Douglas House Summertown charity shop! 🎂

𝐒𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝: “Our amazing team of volunteers make a real difference in our Summertown shop. Their enthusiasm contributes significantly to our customers’ shopping experience.”

We also want to thank our wonderful retail staff and loyal customers who support us at Summertown. 🧡

Here’s to another fantastic year of charity shopping!

We’d like to wish the best of luck to Adam Munt who is taking the plunge to raise money for Helen & Douglas House today!

As well as raising vital funds for the hospice, he’s jumping in memory of his fiance’s daughter, Lilly, who was cared for here at the hospice until she died in 2020. He said “she was always such a happy and smiley little lady, even during the seizures and most difficult days Lilly always had a smile to make sure her mum knew she was ok. Helen & Douglas House means an awful lot to the family, and we will continue to support them as a family for many years to come.”

So far, Adam has smashed his £700 target which is incredible. Read his story and donate here - https://www.justgiving.com/page/adam-munt-1718127430117

The siblings group was all abuzz earlier this month as they had a day trip with sibling workers Laura and Rosa at Westbury Arts Centre to have a go at beekeeping!

They all got kitted out in their best beekeeping suits complete with antenna and visited their hives, made their own beeswax candles and discovered how bees make the world a better place to bee.

Special thanks to the skilled beekeepers at Westbury Bee Group for making the day so special and memorable for the siblings. Days like these are so important for allowing the siblings to take their minds away from any worries at home and make friends with others with shared experiences.

Read more about their beekeeping adventures – https://www.helenanddouglas.org.uk/blog/a-buzzing-day-out-for-the-siblings-at-westbury/

To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s birthday earlier this month, BBC Radio 2 broadcast a special programme by Zoe Ball ‘Camilla: Portrait of a Queen’ talking about the life and passions of Her Majesty The Queen, including her patronage of charities like Helen & Douglas House.

Our CEO Jane Long was interviewed about one of the most magical events in the Helen & Douglas calendar: the annual Clarence House Christmas party for the children, families and staff. The event is gives the children cared for by Helen & Douglas House a spectacular start to the festive season with gifts of gingerbread cookies, a chance to decorate the amazing Clarence House tree, and to top it all off, a delicious sausage and mash lunch served by Her Majesty The Queen.

Listen now on BBC Sounds by searching “Camilla” and hear Jane Long’s interview at 36:20 🧡

Join our volunteer team and celebrate the fantastic fundraising of our local community by being one of our Bubble Rush volunteers!

Pop your application in now - https://www.helenanddouglas.org.uk/job/community-events-volunteer/

A very Happy Birthday to our Helen & Douglas House Didcot charity shop which turns 13 today!

𝐉𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝: “Working for Helen & Douglas House is incredibly rewarding. It's an honour to contribute to making a difference in the lives of the families we serve. I am passionate about our mission, and the dedication of our amazing staff and volunteers truly reflects our collective efforts. We also want to thank our wonderful customers, both regular and new, for their support. Without them, our work wouldn't be possible.”

Here's to another fantastic year of charity shopping and teamwork!

In today’s fast-paced work environment, encouraging team spirit and camaraderie is more important than ever. A great way to achieve this is through team charity challenges. Participating in these events not only brings employees together but also contributes to a greater cause. 🧡

Our recent Snowdon Sunrise trek is a perfect example of the benefits of team charity challenges, and we hope to inspire other teams to join our upcoming Bubble Rush event in September.

Hear from Christina from our HR team, who recently completed the Snowdon Sunrise trek alongside her HR colleagues. In our recent blog post she shares her experience and tells us the benefits from taking part in a charity challenge as a team. 💪

Read more - https://hdh.org.uk/benefits-of-team-charity-challenges

We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Her Majesty The Queen! 🎂

We hope Her Majesty The Queen has a wonderful day filled with joy, love and blessings.

We are honoured to have Her Majesty as our Patron. She has shown us wonderful support over the years and brought smiles to many of our children's faces. 🧡

🌟 Did You Know? 🌟

At Helen & Douglas House, we offer Sibling Support Groups to help brothers and sisters of children with terminal or life-shortening illnesses. Many siblings feel alone and are unable to talk to their friends about how they are feeling.

Our Sibling Support Groups provide a safe and understanding space where siblings can talk about what they’re going through with people who understand. This support helps to reduce feelings of isolation and makes them feel less alone.

In 2023/2024, our Sibling Support Team:
🧡 Received 55 new referrals for Sibling Support
🧡 Supported over 50 children and young people in group support
🧡 Provided 1:1 support to over 40 young people

Your donations allow us to continue supporting the siblings of children who come to Helen & Douglas House and make a positive difference where it matters most. 🧡

Today we celebrate not one, but two special birthdays! 🎂

Our Helen & Douglas House Marlow and Helen & Douglas House Woodley shops are turning 15 and 13 years old!

A huge thank you to our dedicated staff, amazing volunteers, and incredible customers who make these milestones possible. Your support means the world to us!

Here's to many more years of making a difference together! 🌟

What a journey! Despite facing wet, windy, and extremely challenging conditions, our incredible group of trekkers made it to the summit of Snowdon with smiles on their faces. This trek is not easy even in the best weather, so a massive congratulations to everyone who braved the rain and completed the climb. Your determination and positive spirit are truly inspiring! 👏

A huge thank you to Sky Blue Adventures for guiding our trekkers during this extraordinary challenge.

The team carried two stones to the summit in memory of Nicole and Maisie, two children who came to Helen & Douglas House.

Our trekkers have raised a fantastic £7,050 including Gift Aid. This money could fund not one, but two of our Siblings Weekend Camps, giving children a break away from caring for their brothers or sisters with a terminal illness and a chance to meet others who know what they’re going through.

If you’d like to donate, there’s still time. You can visit the fundraising page here - https://hdh.org.uk/Snowdown-Trek-Fundraising-Page

60km/ two full days trekking across ancient dried-up riverbeds, sand dunes, and sun-baked plains - COMPLETE ✅

Two days helping a community project that supports vulnerable young people with education and vocational training - COMPLETE ✅

A massive thank you to Rebecca and Imogen, who completed the extraordinary trek in the Sahara Desert in memory of their daughter/sister, Grace, who died at Helen & Douglas House in 2020. Together, they raised an incredible £6,326 in total! This money will go a long way in providing support, comfort and care to other local families.

Rebecca wore Grace’s RAF Cadet boots and carried her camp rucksack, making the challenge even more special. You both should be so proud of what you have achieved. This was a huge adventure and you absolutely smashed it! 💪✨

Feeling inspired? Sign up to take on this challenge next year - https://www.helenanddouglas.org.uk/events/sahara-desert-trek/

🛍️ Do you love shopping at our Helen & Douglas House charity shops? 🛍️

Show your support by nominating Helen & Douglas House for the UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Award! 🌟

This brand new award celebrates the Charity Retail Association's 25th Anniversary. A shortlist of charity shops from across the UK will be put to a public vote this summer, with a local winning shop chosen from each of the 12 UK regional areas. The overall UK winner will then be announced at a special gala dinner event in November. 🎉

How to nominate:
1️⃣ Fill out the form here: https://hdh.org.uk/Favourite-Charity-Shop-Award
2️⃣ Nominate Helen & Douglas House by Monday 15 July 2024.

Let’s highlight the amazing work our retail team and volunteers do to support our customers and local communities. 🧡

P.S. Help us spread the word by sharing this post. The more nominations we receive, the greater our chances of winning!

Thank you for your support! 🙏

🌟🎉 Helenbury Festival Fun! 🎉🌟

To celebrate Glastonbury a few weekends ago, we decided to create our own mini festival at Helen & Douglas House called Helenbury! 🎶

Our amazing care team transformed the hospice garden into a festival wonderland. With tickets and wristbands in hand, everyone enjoyed a variety of acts including jokes, rapping, and yoga. It was a morning filled with laughter, music, and unforgettable memories. 🧡

Check out some of our favourite moments from the day!

Who doesn't love that pure bubble-popping, feel-good feeling of supporting your local community?

If you love bubbles, you'll want to come and join us this September! We're on the look out for fellow bubble enthusiasts who can volunteer their time. Whether you're handing out medals, giving out goodies at our stands or cheering on participants, this is an opportunity you will not want to miss!

Sound like you? Pop in your application - https://www.helenanddouglas.org.uk/job/community-events-volunteer/

We want to shout out the amazing (and very brave!) team over at M:MBio who will be taking the plunge tomorrow to raise vital funds for Helen & Douglas House!

We wish you all the best of luck. Your support means so much to us 🧡

🌟 It’s Thank You Day! 🌟

Today, we want to send an extra special thank you to everyone who makes Helen & Douglas House such a wonderful place. Your hard work, dedication, and support mean the world to us!

Thank you to our…
🧡 incredible volunteers
🧡 amazing supporters
🧡 compassionate care team
🧡 and dedicated Helen & Douglas House staff

We couldn’t do it without each and every one of you. You help bring so much joy and comfort to the families we support.

Who are you saying thank you to today?