Support While Your Child Is In Hospital

If your child is in hospital for a longer stay, you may want extra support. On this page, we have compiled a list of charities who may be able to help you with practical, emotional or financial concerns during this time. There are also a number of charities who may be able to provide accommodation so that you can stay near to your child’s hospital if it is far away from home.

Help with Accommodation

If your child is in hospital far away from home, you may be able to find accommodation nearby to reduce travel time and give you peace of mind. To find out which charity may be able to help, please look at this table. You can then find out more by following the relevant link below:

Children’s Heartbeat Trust – Provides accommodation for parents of children on the cardiac Clark Clinic at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. Accommodation is available through speaking with the nurses. https://www.childrensheartbeattrust.org/  

Evie’s Gift – This charity contributes to hotel costs so that you can stay near your child when they are in hospital if there is no accommodation available. Applications need to be made by hospital professionals or a support charity and are available to those who are in financial need. Evie’s Gift supports people across the UK but has a limited budget and may not be able to help everybody who applies. https://eviesgift.org.uk/ 

Hearts Together – Provides accommodation near Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. Also provides emotional, financial and practical support. https://www.heartstogether.org.uk/hospital-hotel  

Northern Ireland – According to this news article, Stormont’s Department of Health and the Western Health Trust are able to provide assistance with accommodation costs. You may wish to speak to your child’s medical team to find out whether this is available to your family. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65775714  

Rhys Daniels Trust – Provides accommodation near Kings College Hospital (London), Bristol Royal Infirmary, Addenbrooke’s Hospital (Cambridge), Royal Marsden Hospital (Sutton). https://rhysdanielstrust.org/

Ronald McDonald House Charities – Accommodation or day access to facilities near Alder Hey Children’s Hospital (Liverpool), Arrowe Park Hospital (Wirral), Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital (Brighton), Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, King’s College Hospital (London), Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital (Cardiff), Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (Edinburgh), Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and St Mary’s Neonatal Unit, Moorfields Eye Hospital (London), Oxford Children’s Hospital, Southampton Children’s Hospital and Princess Anne Hospital (Southampton), St. George’s Hospital (London). https://rmhc.org.uk/

Ronald McDonald House Glasgow – Separate to the Ronald McDonald House Charities listed above, this is an independent charity which provides accommodation to parents whose children are in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. Accommodation is available through referral by hospital staff. https://www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse.co.uk/ 

Scottish Government – Help is available with finding and funding accommodation for parents whose children are in hospitals in Scotland. Please see the following link for more information: https://www.mygov.scot/young-patients-family-fund  

The Archie Foundation – Provides accommodation near Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital. https://archie.org/hospitalaccommodation/ 

The Grand Appeal – Provides accommodation for families when their child is in Bristol Children’s Hospital and the NICU. https://www.grandappeal.org.uk/ 

The Sick Children’s Trust – Provides accommodation near Addenbrooke’s Hospital (Cambridge), Rosie Hospital (Cambridge), Royal Victoria Infirmary (Newcastle), Leeds Children Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital (London), Freeman Hospital (Newcastle), Royal London Hospital, Sheffield Children’s Hospital. https://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/

Contact’s By Your Side Parent Advisers – These advisers provide support to parents, including providing information about benefits and school support as well as helping parents navigate around hospitals and understanding medical terms. They are based in certain parts of England and in Scotland. For more information, please visit: https://contact.org.uk/about-contact/what-we-do/our-programmes/by-your-side-reaching-families-in-hospital/  

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity – offers emotional support to families at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff. https://noahsarkcharity.org/hereforyouappeal/  

Rainbow Trust – This charity provides Family Support Workers to families who have children with life-limiting conditions in England (with online support available throughout the UK). This includes emotional support, keeping children company during hospital appointments, arranging activities for siblings and driving families to medical appointments. https://www.rainbowtrust.org.uk/  

Ripples of Compassion – This charity provides ready meals to parents whose children are in hospital wards to make things a bit easier. These are only available at select hospitals throughout the UK, but you can nominate your child’s hospital/ward. They also provide activity packs for children who are expected to be in hospital for more than 4 weeks. https://www.ripplesofcompassion.com/  

The Grand Appeal – Provide Family Support Practitioners to families whose children are at Bristol Children’s Hospital to help them with emotional, financial and practical support while their child is in hospital. They also provide day trips for siblings. https://www.grandappeal.org.uk/ 

TinyLife – Based in Northern Ireland, this charity can provide support to parents while their children are in Neonatal Units. You can complete a Family Support form for further information and support. https://www.tinylife.org.uk/services-for-families/supporting-you-in-neonatal-unit/  

Working Families – This website has information about how to manage taking time off work to care for your child or take them to medical appointments. https://workingfamilies.org.uk/article-categories/emergency-and-parental-leave-and-pay/  

Bliss – this website has a lot of helpful information about which benefits you may be eligible for if your baby is in hospital. https://www.bliss.org.uk/parents/support/financial-information-and-support-for-families  

React – This grant-giving charity may be able to provide assistance for travel and subsistence expenses when your child is in hospital. https://reactcharity.org/  

Scottish Government – Parents and siblings in Scotland can claim costs for travel and food when visiting children and young people who are inpatients in hospital through the Young Patients Family Fund. They can also get help with accommodation. There is more information and a claim form on this website, including information about eligibility: https://www.mygov.scot/young-patients-family-fund  

Turn2us – Child Benefit Payments will continue when your child is in hospital for up to 84 days, after which they will be stopped unless you need the money for your child’s needs. Child Tax Credits will still be paid unless your child is in hospital for a long period. The Child Element of Universal credit will continue to be paid unless your child is expected to be in hospital for more than six months. The Scottish Child Payment will continue. https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/hospital-and-benefits/benefits-for-a-child-who-is-in-hospital 

Spread A Smile – Offers activities for children who are in hospital for extended stays, including music lessons and tuition. There are opportunities at multiple hospitals. https://spreadasmile.org/