Sherbornes Art Exhibition raise over £700 for Sebastian’s Action Trust

The Sherbornes Art Exhibition has managed to raise a fantastic £721 for Sebastian’s Action Trust as part of their annual fundraising drive for local charities. Each year local artists Pat Burt, Lindsay Berry and Mike Hall exhibit their own work along with guest artists and local craftsman to help fundraise for their chosen charities, of which Sebastian’s Action Trust was a recipient this year.

Sebastian’s Action Trust CEO Jane Gates said “This is a superb gesture from this group of local artists and we are delighted that they have chosen Sebastian’s Action Trust as one of their chosen charities. This really shows the way the local community have taken to Sebastian’s Action Trust and the work we do at our purpose-built holiday house, The Bluebells, to help families with seriously ill children”

The money raised will go towards the Brick Buy Brick campaign to raise £30,000 for an extension of The Bluebells which will be extended with a new counselling and advice centre, a new well-being suite and a new communal area so we will be able to offer families of seriously-ill children more day visits. The Trust is offering the opportunity to have your own personalised glass brick in the new extension which will forever be part of The Bluebells story. Buy a glass brick to memorialise a loved one, leave a lasting message or show your support for the Trust. Bricks are £100, engraved with a message or £200 for companies with an engraved logo.

For more information please contact Jim Fyfe on 01344 620500 or email [email protected]

Background

Sebastian’s Action Trust is an incorporated charity based in Bagshot, Surrey. Our charity was developed from the vision of one very special nine-year-old boy who launched it just twelve days before he died of cancer in 2003. Sebastian’s aim was to provide a place where life-limited children and their families can holiday together away from the rigours of

hospital appointments, gruelling treatment schedules and prying eyes. Importantly for very sick children the home needed to be clean, safe and adaptable to meet their often complex physical and emotional needs. Sebastian’s vision was simple, yet vital for those facing the loss of a beloved child; he wanted to create a private place where memories could be made which would last a life-time, even if that life was to be cruelly cut short.

In 2011 Sebastian’s vision was finally realised and The Bluebells, the UKs first purpose built respite holiday home was completed. Since opening in July 2011 The Bluebells has given over 200 families the opportunity to spend precious time together, safe in the knowledge that the home is close to the hospital and that trained staff are on hand to provide help and support should this be needed.

Our work now extends further into emotional and practical support for families during the darkest days of their lives. This work is delivered by trained Outreach Workers who work with families to ascertain their needs and to deliver bespoke support aimed at easing their suffering and isolation. Our work is primarily focused across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire Surrey, Wiltshire and Hampshire. We do however also support families from further afield to come to The Bluebells because there is simply no other project of its kind in the UK.