Local faith group makes heartfelt donation to the Diana 20th Anniversary Appeal

25 Jan 2019

Children from the Madrassah Hanif Islamic faith group have made a generous donation to the Diana Children's Community Service 20^th Anniversary appeal, which is raising funds for specific resources and equipment to enhance the care provided for poorly local children in the community.

LPT’s Diana Children’s Community Service, which includes nurses, physiotherapists, healthcare support workers and family practitioners, is named after the late Princess Diana, and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The service cares for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions in their own homes.

Rukhsana Hanif (pictured on the right) has worked as a cultural link worker with the Diana Service for the past fifteen years. Her role involves acting as a translator and interpreter to facilitate care provided to children and families for whom English is an additional language. Outside of her work with the Diana Service, Rukhsana also runs the Madrassah Hanif faith group. This group comprises eight pupils, ranging in age from five to twelve years, who meet Monday to Thursday for an hour a day to study the Qu’ran, and to learn about Islamic traditions, etiquette and values. Part of what Rukhsana teaches is the importance of appreciating what you have, and giving back to your community through charitable work.

The children’s donations totalled £180, and they were proud to present a cheque to Julie Potts, palliative care lead nurse (pictured on the left) who has been with the service since its inception. Julie said: “I’m really honoured to accept this generous donation on behalf of the service. It’s wonderful that these children want to help others who are struggling with long term ill-health, and making a real difference. They are an inspiration.”

The Diana Anniversary Appeal aims to raise funds for a number of items which are beyond the scope of core NHS provision, but which make a big difference to children and families. These items include:

• end of life bundles, which bring together all the equipment and supplies needed to support a child through their final moments, avoiding delays and ensuring the care is as smooth as possible at a difficult time
• memory boxes and finger print jewellery which enable grieving families to capture memories of a sibling, son or daughter
• clear way cough assists, devices used by respiratory physiotherapists to help avoid chest infections in neuromuscular and neurodisability patients, enabling them to remain at home instead of having to be hospitalised.

You can find out more about the appeal here.