Child first, patient second

COVID-19 Emergency Appeal

The dedicated team at the 'Sick Kids' are well-prepared experts in fighting illness and infection. The hospital does not stop during times of crisis. Nor does Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity. 

The safety of children, families and NHS staff is our immediate priority and they still need your help as we face these difficult times together. Please consider donating to our emergency appeal.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working closely with our friends in NHS Lothian to provide the most appropriate support for those visiting the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. In line with Government regulations, our services are now running as follows:

Hospital Shop

We are pleased to be keeping our hospital shop open for as long as we can to fuel the wonderful NHS staff over the coming weeks. As we have asked most of our staff and all volunteers to stay home, we will be operating on reduced hours but, at the very least, we will be open Mondays to Fridays 11am to 2pm with fresh sandwiches and healthy snacks each day.

Drop In Centre

Our Drop In Centre team is no longer operating within the RHSC. The team has launched a telephone and online service to continue to be there for children, young people and families.

We know many families will be worried during this difficult time, with lockdown adding to their distress and loneliness. The team are experts in providing family support and youth work with a focus on supporting families at times of anxiety and stress. They can also sign post to other organisations that will be able to provide ongoing support with any challenges that may have arisen due to current circumstances.

We are here to help families make positive choices and reduce their isolation. If you or your family are in need of advice, assurance or just someone to chat to as we face these challenging times together, please get in touch with Leigh. You can call 0131 668 4949 or email leigh.drake@echcharity.org.

Arts Programme

Our Arts Programme team are developing innovative ways to help engage, distract and relax children while the team and our partners are not able to access the wards directly.

Studio paint boxes, bedside art galleries and the new acute admissions leaflet aim to support the work of the 'Sick Kids' in keeping children and young people of all ages informed and occupied. We will be introducing more resources as the weeks go on to bring much needed fun and distraction to the wards.

Family Support and Play

A range of supports including: Supporting the Play Team to deliver play activities at bedsides; memory making; and the emergency hospital social work fund. 

We are continuing to provide our Parent Accommodation so that parents can stay close to their children who are in hospital during the lockdown.

Grants Programme 

Our current timescales for grants is set out here. However, in light of current uncertainties around the impact of COVID-19, please be advised that this timeline may change. We will endeavour to keep you updated with the progress of your application.

We believe that nothing should get in the way of being a child. We exist to transform the experiences of children and young people in hospital so they can be a child first and a patient second.

We support and complement the work of Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children (The Sick Kids) as well as other children’s healthcare settings across Scotland.