Camp Simcha supports families where a child has a serious medical condition. We want to ensure that no child slips through the net because their family is unaware of the support we can provide to ALL seriously ill children, across the whole Jewish community.
Who we help: We support Jewish families across the UK, where a child aged 0-18 has a significant illness that causes them pain and social isolation; including premature babies, Type-1 diabetes, serious Crohn’s or epilepsy, genetic disorders, serious surgery etc.
What we do: We offer practical, emotional and therapeutic services for the whole family, particularly siblings who may miss out as their parents are focused on their ill brother or sister.
Our Family Liaison Officers are available any time for Mum & Dad to express their feelings, and to provide a bespoke package of services tailored to each family.
During lockdown, many of our services have moved online, for example:
- Art lessons on zoom (with materials sent in) for the ill child and also for our siblings support groups.
- Cookery sessions on zoom for families or for individuals with their Big Brother or Big Sister volunteer – every child is matched with someone who is there just to give them attention, and to help give Mum & Dad a break.
We also send in many resources:
- Mum & daughter spa packs, to encourage them to take time out for themselves.
- Arts & craft resources, books & toys, and special treats to cheer everyone up at the toughest times.
- Dinner for Two, to give Mum & Dad some special and important time together, while their children are entertained.
- Tickets for days out together while we can’t run our usual events.
- Equipment to help manage every-day difficulties.
For more information about Camp Simcha and the medical conditions that we support, please have a look at this video, which you may wish to share with your community:
How can you get involved?
Our Touchpoints Ambassadors serve as our eyes and ears in the community – they are a network of trained volunteers who help make the connection to Camp Simcha whenever they hear about a family who needs our support.
I am emailing you today to ask if you might consider becoming a Touchpoints Ambassador or introducing us to others who are responsible for children or families in your community who might like to get involved. Being an Ambassador takes up no time at all but it can make a real difference!
Watch this short video about TouchPoints which explains how simple it is to make the connection to Camp Simcha.
TouchPoints Ambassadors might be a parent on class WhatsApp or Facebook groups through school, cheder or nursery. Their children might go to football, drama, Brownies or Cubs, or toddler groups. They’re in touch with other parents and hear about what’s going on in their local community. They might be grandparents who pick up from school and chat at the gate. They might not have kids, but be connected with families professionally or through volunteer or youth work.
When a parent is dealing with their child being diagnosed with a serious illness, they have so much to contend with. It’s very hard to ask for help from a charity. A TouchPoints Ambassador can help them to make the connection to Camp Simcha, so that someone who the parents really trust can explain what Camp Simcha can do for them, and make a referral.
Grandparents can play a key role in this, so we are looking for Ambassadors of all generations.
To get involved, please go to: www.campsimcha.org.uk/touchpoints and complete the sign up form.