Business Leaders join forces to call for support for a charity that supports families caring for seriously ill children as it opens a new Liverpool base. Tony McDonough reports

Business leaders in Liverpool are backing a charity that supports families caring for a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

Rainbow Trust was set up 35 years ago. It has seven existing care teams and last year supported 1,126 families across the country. It has worked with Alder Hey hospital.

However, for the first time it now has a permanent base in Liverpool at Mersey Play Action Centre in Bridport Street. This will enable it to offer help to a greater number of families.

Now Donna Scully, joint owner of law firm Carpenters Group, and David Wafer, managing director of McIver Scott Consultancy and chair of the IoD for the Liverpool city region are looking to offer some extra support for Rainbow Trust’s work.

They are inviting members of Merseyside’s business community to come along to an event  on February 23 to raise awareness of what the charity does.

Donna said: “I have supported and been involved with Rainbow Trust for more than 10 years through our corporate membership of I Love Claims so I’m delighted to welcome them to Liverpool.

“I’ve lived and worked in Merseyside now for more than 25 years so it is my adopted home after Dublin. I am constantly blown away by the community spirit and support I see here. I want to make them welcome.”

David added: “Liverpool has a rich history of helping those in need, and families need support more than ever when they have a child who is seriously ill.

“When Donna called me, I knew we had to raise awareness, so families can receive that vital support. We are calling upon businesses to help connect them into the city and become an integral support pillar for so many families.”

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Rainbow Trust’s Liverpool team comprises a manager and three family support workers. Initially, they will focus on building referral pathways with major hospitals and healthcare providers to ensure families that need support can access it.

They will also work in partnership with local hospices and clinical teams to ensure families receive the best possible joined-up care provision.

Katherine Brooks, corporate and community fundraising manager for the Rainbow Trust, said “We have long been aware that there are many families with a life-threatened or seriously ill child living in Liverpool and they need support.

“Not only through our existing relationship with Alder Hey hospital. But also because research indicates that in Liverpool and the surrounding areas, there are more than 2,500 children and young people with life threatening/limiting conditions who may need support.”