Rainbow Trust Children's Charity

Charity Number: 1070532

Rainbow Trust Children's Charity is a UK-based nonprofit organisation dedicated to providing emotional and practical support to families who have a child aged 0-18 with a life-threatening or terminal illness. The charity pairs each family with a dedicated expert Family Support Worker to help them face the daily challenges and uncertainties that come with caring for a seriously ill child[1][4].

History

Rainbow Trust was founded in 1986 by Bernadette Cleary, who was initially moved to provide emotional support to a friend’s 12-year-old daughter with terminal cancer, who wished to die at home rather than in hospital. Starting from her kitchen and later a garden shed, Bernadette raised funds to train Family Support Workers to support families at their time of greatest need. This humble beginning grew into the establishment of Rainbow Trust Children's Charity[5].

Over the course of 30 years, Rainbow Trust expanded significantly and currently supports over 1,900 families across the UK through nine teams of Family Support Workers. The charity is predominantly funded through public donations, raising approximately £5.1 million annually[5].

Mission and Work

The core mission of Rainbow Trust is to ensure that every family caring for a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness receives the support they need. The charity supports the entire family unit, including parents, carers, the unwell child, siblings, and grandparents.

Family Support Workers provide practical help such as taking siblings to school, transporting parents and children to hospital appointments, and offering emotional support throughout the family’s journey—from diagnosis and treatment to bereavement and beyond. Additional services include drop-in groups, sibling support services, neonatal support, and specialist assistance for children with cardiac conditions[1][3][5].

Funding and Support

Rainbow Trust is almost entirely reliant on the generosity of the public for funding their work. Donations enable the charity to maintain and expand its reach, providing expert support for families as long as they need it. The organisation also encourages fundraising and volunteering as vital means to support its mission[3].

Impact

Families supported by Rainbow Trust often describe the lasting positive impressions left by the charity’s involvement during their most difficult times. The organisation periodically publishes impact reports to share stories of the difference made in the lives of the children and families they support[3].

Rainbow Trust Children's Charity remains committed to its founding values and continues to be a crucial source of care and support to families facing the challenges of life-threatening childhood illnesses.

[1] https://www.rainbowtrust.org.uk/about [2] https://www.rainbowtrust.org.uk/about/what-we-do [3] https://www.rainbowtrust.org.uk [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1070532&subId=0 [5] https://www.rainbowtrust.org.uk/latest-news/30-years-of-care