CARING for children’s mental health in South Warwickhire is at the heart of a new appeal.
South Warwickshire Foundation Trust Charity has launched the Young Minds Matter Appeal, which aims to raise £350,000 for an array of new facilities on Warwick Hospital’s MacGregor Ward, with the focus on enhancing care for children with mental health conditions.
The plans for the development include a new playroom and activity area, an adolescent recreational space, a sensory room with specialist equipment to allow children to decompress away from the busy ward, and a bereavement suite/quiet room.
The project has been prompted by the increase in young mental health patients admitted to the ward since the start of the pandemic.
The development aims to give staff the tools and resources required to support these patients, as well as creating age-appropriate areas for all children spending time on the ward.
SWFT Charity is appealing to the public for help with raising the cash needed to create this state-of-the-art children’s ward, fully equipped to comfort and care for children of all ages, with facilities and equipment that go above and beyond NHS funding.
MacGregor ward manager Victoria Harrison said: “Supporting the mental wellbeing of our young patients whilst in hospital is crucial in aiding recovery.
“Providing distractions and an area to use away from the bed space is a key part of delivering high quality holistic care to the children and young people of South Warwickshire.”
Social enterprise company, SWFT Clinical Services, has already donated £40,000 to kickstart the appeal.
Chief executive Jayne Blacklay, said: “We believe it is important that we look after the mental health of young people in our society, and we are thrilled to announce a £40,000 donation to the appeal.
“This will support the provision of an all-new adolescent recreational area, as part of the project to provide age-appropriate and sensory facilities to all young patients on the ward.
“We wish SWFT Charity every success with their campaign and look forward to seeing the completion of these new facilities that will support young patients during their time in hospital.”
Visit the Young Minds Matter Appeal campaign page via the following JustGiving link – www.justgiving.com/campaign/SWFTCharityYoungMindsMatter
To discuss donating or fund-raising for the appeal, contact the SWFT Charity Fundraising Team at [email protected] or call 01926 495321 ext 8049.
