Providing parents, children and siblings with the support they need
Brothers & Sisters Home Support Volunteer Programme:
Camp Simcha has a team of dedicated young adult volunteers, who regularly visit children and siblings at home or in hospital. These ‘big brothers and sisters’ forge a lifelong bond, bringing a ray of sunshine into the child’s world, whilst simultaneously offering respite to their parents.
Medical Clowning / Hospital Programme
Clowning Around Helps Children Cope With Surgery
For kids about to undergo surgey, anxiety is common - it's estimated that almost two thirds of children experience fear, stress, nervousness, and worry before entering the operating room. Humor can help alleviate anxiety.
Tailor-made support for parents:
In early 2005, we appointed the first of our family liaison officers. Providing a critical point of contact, these members of our team ensure we are constantly listening to, and responding to the specific needs of every parent.
We also provide support groups for parents providing an opportunity to get strength from each other.
Teenagers:
Many of the children we have helped over the years are now in their teens, and thankfully some are in remission. Nevertheless, the ties binding them to peers they met through Camp Simcha remain. With a calendar of social events and with the benefits of interactive technology, we are able to foster those friendships and help them stay in touch with each other
The Global Family:
The support network we offer is not just restricted to the UK. With offices all over the Jewish world, we can introduce British parents to the best medical professionals across the globe. And, however rare their child’s condition, we can put them in touch with other families who have been in a similar position.
Hospital Projects:
BALLOONS BRIGHTEN UP HOSPITAL WARDS
Camp Simcha volunteers deliver brightly coloured silver helium balloons to over 100 children per month in hospital. These balloons brighten up the ward and can make a real difference to a child suffering treatment, or even to the parents around the bedside.
The balloons are also a simple way of helping to constantly remind non-Jewish staff about Camp Simcha.
HOSPITAL CLOWNS
The first team of hospital clowns have now been recruited and trained to visit children in hospital in order to cheer them up through the magic of clowning. Based on the original Patch Adams philosophy, Camp Simcha clowns will visit many children in hospital throughout the year.
This programme is also designed to help raise awareness amongst hospital staff of the services that we can provide
