LCF grants $10,000 to Very Special Kids
Very Special Kids Hospice is an organisation we hold close to our hearts and we were delighted to make our inaugural grant to them.
On 7 April we met with Very Special Kids Hospice to make a ten thousand dollar donation of money raised by our amazing supporters. The funds will be used to support families of children who are seriously ill and specifically be used to cover the costs of family accommodation.
Very Special Kids (VSK) is a tranquil property located amongst the hum of Malvern East. The place has a feeling of quietness and peace despite its brave but heart wrenching mission. To help families care for and far too often, to help them say goodbye to their children.
We were grateful to be able to access VSK’s support while Lily was alive, in her death they provided us a cuddle cot and a haven to hold our girl until her funeral, and we continue to use their bereavement support and counselling today.
VSK offer families access to planned and emergency respite, as well as end-of-life care. The hospice provides 24-hour specialist nursing care in a warm and welcoming environment.
The money LCF has granted will be used to cover the costs of family accommodation while children are in respite or end of life care.
VSK has onsite accommodation that families can stay in. VSK is Victoria’s only Pediatric Hospice and families travel from all over the state of Victoria to access their services. Many would not be able to afford to stay close to their children without the support of VSK.
The free-of-charge family support services also include counselling, advocacy, sibling support, bereavement support, networking and peer activities, trained family volunteers and specialist care at the Very Special Kids Hospice.
Each family is supported in unique and varying ways according to their personal needs.
It costs more than $8.8 million each year to operate Very Special Kids, they rely substantially on generous support from corporates and the community to provide services free-of-charge to families.
