'An Insight into the Work of CHAS (Children's Hospice Association Scotland)', Eileen Gillon

Before hearing from our speaker, President Ian presented RYLA candidate, Chloe Elvin from Wester Hailes Community School with her certificate. She thanked the Club for the opportunity to attend the event and told us how much she enjoyed it. She felt it had done her a great deal of good and recommended that anyone who had the opportunity to take part in RYLA should do so.

Our guest speaker, Eileen Gillon from CHAS, started her talk by thanking the members for their support over the years. She then spoke about the work of the children's hospice organisation. CHAS is a charity that provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people who have life-shortening conditions for which there is no known cure.

CHAS runs two children's hospices: Rachel House in Kinross opened in 1996 and Robin House in Balloch opened in 2005. At the hospices respite care is provided. CHAS shares the care of children and young people with families so that they can relax and enjoy some precious time together as a family. A home care service called 'CHAS at Home' is also provided to care for children and young people in their own homes across Scotland in between hospice visits or when they are too ill to travel. The charity costs over seven million pounds each year to run.

Eileen then presented three videos showing more of CHAS's work.

A vote of thanks was proposed by Brian Buchanan.

Report by Alan Young