Achievements 2008

Although a relatively new and developing charity, we have made considerable progress over the last 12 months, both in terms of our strategic development and the opportunities we are providing for bereaved children and families from across the UK.

The positive developments outlined below have been achieved through a small
paid team (equivalent of less than 1 full-time member of staff) and largely through volunteer support. During 2008 volunteers contributed more than 1,600 hours.
This has ensured that the project remains cost-effective and provides good value
for money:

• Achieved a 41% increase in the number of families benefiting from the project. This included 109 children.

• Established Sand Rose as a truly national organisation, raising our profile and developing links with a wide range of new referral agencies from around the country. Families travelled from across the whole of the UK to benefit from the project. Referrals were made by GPs, bereavement services,
  Victim Support and Health Visitors, Great Ormond Street Hospital, SCOOP, CRUSE Bereavement Care, Jigsaw, SAMM, Christian Lewis Trust, Noah’s Ark, Women’s Aid, CLIMB, St Christopher’s Hospice, One25 and LATCH.

• Successfully raised over £50,000 to enable us to run the project. We have attracted funds from a variety of sources including a number of high profile trusts and foundations. For the first time the cottages are now available all year round for bereaved families rather than relying on commercial rents to part-fund the service.

• Established a local fundraising team, made up mainly of volunteers, who meet quarterly.

• Appointed our new Project Coordinator, Lea Heap, who has made improvements to our booking systems and administrative procedures.

• Took on the lease of a new cottage, Greeb Rocks, enabling more families to benefit from the project.

• Held our first Open Day Event in September. This has resulted in the development of some very positive links within the local community, including Marazion School, Marazion Methodists and Hayle Rotary. This event received media coverage from ITV South West, The Cornishman Newspaper and Cornwall Life Magazine.

• Maintained the cottages to a high standard including the refurbishment
  of a bathroom.

• Updated and improved our publicity and website, including providing the facility to download our new leaflet directly from it.

• Further developed the magnificent garden.

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The Next Steps

• We plan to support even more families in 2009. We now have the capacity to support up to 120 families per year, while managing our running costs effectively to ensure that the unit cost to the charity per family remains
  close to £500.

• We hope to develop further awareness and understanding of our work with a series of presentations and target mailings to GPs, solicitors, funeral directors, hospices and the national bereavement services.

• We are planning a series of local fundraising initiatives and opportunities for volunteers, including a coffee morning in June.

• We aim to diversify our income streams by submitting applications to a range of Funders, as well as continuing to attract funding from trusts
  and foundations.