Persimmon thanks hospital charity for helping mum Beth

When the team in Suffolk chose their charity of the year back in January 2023 they knew they wanted their donations to make a real difference.

Little did they realise, before their marathon fundraising effort drew to a close they would see first-hand the vital work their chosen charity does.

The team voted to support The Sick Children’s Trust as their charity of the year for 2023, and set about organising dress down days, bake sales, and even took part in a mud run.

Over the coming months they raised hundreds of pounds for the charity, which offers a ‘Home from Home’ for families of seriously ill children while they are treated in hospital, including those being cared for at Addenbookes’s Hospital in Cambridge.Then in October, Planner Beth Deacon-Bates went into premature labour, and gave birth to baby Clara 13 weeks early.

The surprise arrival weighed in at just 2lbs 3oz and after being stabilised by the team at Ipswich Hospital she was transferred to the NICU at Addenbrooke’s, more than 50 miles from the family home in Colchester.

The Sick Children’s Trust were able to offer the family accommodation at their Chestnut House ‘Home from Home’ throughout Clara’s three-week stay, allowing them to be close to their new arrival and giving them room to entertain older children Vinnie and Eddie when they came to visit. The charity also runs Acorn House for families of children being treated at Addenbrooke’s.

Beth said: “It was a lifeline for us as a family, it meant we could all be together and be close to Clara. The hospital had a family room but it wasn’t really designed for older children, we could have meals and give the boys some normality while Clara was getting the best possible care at Addenbrooke’s.”

Having heard of the incredible support offered to Beth and her family, Ian Hamilton, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Suffolk, was keen to do more and added a further £3,000 from the housebuilder’s Community Champions scheme to the money raised, taking the total to more than £4,500.

Beth joined Ian and lead fundraiser Julie Kett, Receptionist in Suffolk, in presenting the money to Abi Corbett from The Sick Children’s Trust, and thanked the charity for all of their support.

He said: “We knew the charity provided vital support for families in need and everyone at Persimmon Homes Suffolk worked incredibly hard to raise money for them, not knowing that Beth and her family would be staying with them at the end of the year.

“We are delighted we have been able to help such a worthy cause, and that Clara is now safely at home with her family.”

The presentation took place at the new Rose Manor community in Hadleigh, currently being built by Persimmon Homes under their Charles Church banner, and Cllr Simon Dowling, Hadleigh North ward member for Babergh District Council, joined the event.

Abi Corbett said: “On behalf of The Sick Children’s Trust, I want to say the biggest of thank yous to the team at Persimmon Homes Suffolk for raising an amazing £4,624.19 for Acorn House, our ‘Home from Home’ supporting families with a seriously ill child being treated at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

“The funds are enough to pay for 115 nights of sanctuary at Acorn House, helping to keep those families together at the most stressful of times. “Cllr Simon Dowling said: “Thank you to Persimmon for supporting The Sick Children’s Trust and the work they do caring for families from right across Suffolk when they most need it.”