CHAS

On Thursday 12th May, President Kate Gibb welcomed speaker Isobel Morrison to the Rotary Club of South Queensferry. Isobel is a registered volunteer with the Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS). In an interesting, often moving talk, she explained the origins and development of the organisation which is the only charity in Scotland providing vital respite and end-of-life care for children and young people with life-shortening conditions and their families. Currently CHAS is supporting over 380 families. Contrary to popular belief, well under 50% of patients are suffering from cancer. In 2015 its hospices Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch  offered almost 10,000 bed nights and served over 200,000 meals. In the Highlands, CHAS pioneered CHAS at Home, helping families in their own homes when they need it most. This has now been extended to cover the whole country. In addition to professional staff, the are 900 volunteers within CHAS. The services CHAS provides are mainly financed by its many supporters who help raise vital funds. Support from Local Authorities and the Scottish Government currently varies between 11% and 15% depending on the area. CHAS is campaigning for the same 50% Scottish Government support provided for adult hospices.

CHAS is one of two adopted charities in the club's Rotary Forth Bridge Abseil on Sunday 26th June. Isobel thanked the members for their continuing support in making this wonderful fundraising opportunity available to CHAS. She observed that in 14 years' volunteering for CHAS she had found absolutely nothing in the organisation to criticise.

In proposing the vote of thanks, Gordon McInally recalled many years ago visiting the founders of CHAS on behalf of District 1020 to find how Rotary might help the embryonic organisation. That CHAS is now one of the most significant care providers in the land is testament to the tenacity, dedication and vision of its staff and volunteers.

To find out more about CHAS, visit www.chas.org.uk