Case Studies

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in South Yorkshire is just one of the units which benefits from our bear-able bear gift bag programme.

Bluebell offers care and support to children and young adults including paediatric oncology patients, both in their own homes and at the hospice. They give support to the whole family and this includes respite care, emergency care, end of life care, Sibling support Groups and Parents/Grandparent Groups.

Cancer Recovery helps the hospice by making regular donations of bear-able gift bags containing small toys and craft items which can be used for parties, games, prizes. Sandra Hind, Volunteer Co-ordinator at the hospice explains how our gifts make a difference.

“We use the toys for competition prizes, to boost Christmas Bags and to incorporate them with particular kinds of play or counselling. The parents think it is really nice to use them in this way. These activities help distract children if they’re having a particularly bad day and they help us to create positive memories for families. For instance we had a sponsored walk last weekend and a lot of our families attended and each child was given one of your balls with a smiley face at the end of the walk and all the parents got one of your smiley face stickers.

Our children have lots of different needs. Some of our children have severe physical disabilities and can only appreciate things that are visual or tactile so things like the smiley balls, bracelets, cuddly toys, torches, hats , finger puppets are all popular. Sticker books and glittery things are also useful in the art room.

I know you like feedback from the goodies you send us and I am enclosing a picture of one of our Bluebell Children, she is 14 years of age and really loves colouring. She was delighted with the gifts and found the recent colouring books you sent much more acceptable for her age. The books are like sketch books with a coloured picture on one side and a sketch to colour at the other, much more grown up than the standard colouring book. I am sure this will keep her amused for quite a while.”

"Keep up the good work; we really appreciate your support!" 

Sandra Hind, Volunteer Co-coordinator, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice

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