Archive and History
Sand Rose’s aim is to provide free breaks to the bereaved with particular emphasis on young families. Our three cottages in Marazion, Cornwall, with their sea views and large walled garden provide that special location needed by those suffering loss and grief.
Sand Rose is based on the simple premise to provide one week self-catering breaks at our cottages to any family, free of charge. We do not provide a therapeutic or counselling programme. We simply provide the venue for a break.
We raise awareness of the need for this kind of break amongst national and local bereavement organisations such as Cruse Bereavement Care, CLIC Sargent, Penhaligon's Friends and Children’s Hospice South West. The breaks are an opportunity for bereaved families to come to new surroundings - a place where they can reflect, relax in a peaceful setting without life's normal demands, spend valuable time together, share new experiences and create new memories as well as being more free to be with their experiences of loss.
Why was it set up and who runs it today?
The Sand Rose Project is a registered charity set up in 2004 by the founder, Angie MacDonald, who was widowed when 30 with a two year old son. Her own experience shaped the project into what it is today. Today the charity is run by a board of trustees, a part time Project Coordinator and a small team of volunteers. We also employ local cleaners and a gardener. Our Project Coordinator, Lea Heap, has extensive experience within bereavement support, vital to her role as the point of contact.
Much of our work is carried out by volunteer support and during 2009 volunteers contributed over 1,600 hours. The chairman, trustees and founder all volunteer to support the paid team. Locally we have a number of volunteers who help with open days, special events and awareness raising.
The trustees
Zoe Wilks, a modern matron at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, advises on the national perspective for quality and delivery of our services. Annie Kolbe, recently retired from the national Child Death Helpline, brings with her seventeen years of bereavement support. Flora Stubbs has been a supporter of the project from first ideas and contributes her business and management skills. Keith Butterfield is based locally and has extensive management experience as well as the practical skills to oversee the maintenance of the cottages.
Our beneficiaries
Since we started in 2005 we have supported more than 250 families, including 400 children. In 2009 we supported 74 families including 156 children. Families travel from all over the UK. Referrals come from bereavement counsellors, GPs, work colleagues/ managers, hospital and hospice workers and nurses, ministers, social workers, solicitors and victim liaison workers. In 2009 we received nominations from support organisations such as CHUMS Child Bereavement Service, CLIC Sargent (Cancer Care for Children), Edwards Trust, Jeremiah’s Journey, Jigsaw4u, Laura Centre, Rainbow Centre, Signposts and the Snowdrop Centre.
A Cornwall-based charity
As a national charity we have a particular identity because we are based in Cornwall. We are a truly national organisation supporting families from all over the country, however, we have a strong and unique local identity as we support many families based in Cornwall and the South West.
We have now created a small professional team and developed a proven and successful support model for our beneficiaries. We do not have a large organisational structure. Our governance and support costs are less than 15% of total expenditure. This intentional commitment on our part limits our resources to compete with the marketing skills of the larger high profile charitable bodies. Sand Rose relies upon voluntary donations from the public, trusts, company foundations and Big Lottery Funding. We are at the point where we need to raise awareness locally about the work we do so that we can encourage more volunteer support and funding to secure our longer term goals.
We are also keen to attract a patron to the charity.
Site Map | Privacy | Terms of Use | Accessibility
© 2010 The Sand Rose Project
Registered Charity No. 1105464
A Limited Company Registered in England No. 5164405
