Our Family Weekend – September 2016

Last weekend, 24^th – 25^th September, alongside the London & South East Burn Care Network  and The Fire Fighters Charity we hosted a Family Weekend for parents, carers, siblings and burn survivors.

Our Family Weekends are designed to bring together burn care professionals and families who have similar experiences to interact in an informal environment. The effect alone on the siblings of a burn injured child is often forgotten, making sure to include them as well as burn survivors in the weekend can help them come to terms with the changes in their family life.

Six families with burn-injured children attended this weekend programme and the families were supported by 9 burn care professionals and volunteers, including Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Play Specialists and Psychologists.  The six children are being treated at Specialist Burn Services in Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford and Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead.

The programme

Two separate programmes were offered for the children and their parents including workshops on scar management, psychology sessions and relaxation strategies. The children’s programme included crafts, swimming, our very own “Olympics” and free play.

In addition to the planned activities the programme enabled families the opportunity to spend time together as well as get to know each other and have some fun. The group activities included a visit to the beach and Fishers Farm, which was enjoyed by all. The parents also had the opportunity to have a more formal dinner for adults on the Saturday evening whilst the children attended a children’s party and watched a Punch & Judy Show.

What the children said…

When one of the children was asked how has being at the family weekend helped you they responded “because I know there is other people that has got burnt” another child responded “it could not have been better”

One of parents who attended the weekend said “it gave us as a family the opportunity to talk about the things on our mind and seek the right help”. Another parent said how beneficial it was “engaging with other families with children in the same position.”

How you can help?

We’re only able to put together the family weekend in conjunction with The Fire Fighters Charity because of the support from fundraising activities – it can cost up to £5,000 to organise and host a Family Weekend. To find out ways in which you can get involved with the Children’s Burn Trust please click here or contact us.