News

News - December 2011

End of Year Update

2011 has been an exciting and busy year at Sand Rose. Our feet have not touched the ground since we welcomed the Duke of Kent in April! This year we have supported 95 families and they continue to report being better able to cope with their loss following a visit to Sand Rose.

We have worked hard to achieve our fundraising target and successfully secured additional funding to appoint a Charity Manager. Thanks to a grant from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales we have been able to fund a post of this nature for the first time. We have received generous donations from the Cornwall Community Foundation, the Haymans Trust, the St Hilary Trust and the Waterloo Foundation. Thanks also to all the families who continue to support us and the Mitchell Family, Gweek Village Hall and RAF St Mawgan for raising funds for Sand Rose.

We continue to develop the garden and recently added a swing seat. The games room has been redecorated and a new pool table installed.

Our administrative systems (including our data base and IT) are currently being overhauled hopefully in time for our new appointments to start in the new year.

New Charity Manager

Sand Rose has appointed Louise Court as its first Chief Executive. Louise, previously Head of HR and Organisational Development at Amnesty International UK has a wealth of management experience in the not for profit and voluntary sectors as well as personal commitment to, and a passion for Cornwall. Louise said‘I am looking forward to helping the trustees take this fantastic charity on to the next stage of its development especially developing more links with bereavement professionals and organizations.’

Recruitment of Administrator

We are currently recruiting for an administrator with interviews planned for 9th December. This post will co-ordinate all the administration and manage the enquiries and bookings.

We wish you a very Happy Christmas and look forward to introducing you to a technologically enhanced Sand Rose in 2012!

Royal Approval - 14 April 2011

Relaxed, informal and happy occasion

The trustees, local Mayors, funders and families welcomed HRH The Duke of Kent on Thursday 14th April. The afternoon was a great success and a fitting celebration of Sand Rose’s achievements. Click here to read more and view photographs of the day.

News Release - 14 March 2011

Charity to be visited by HRH The Duke of Kent – Thursday 14 April 2011

The Sand Rose Project is delighted to announce the visit by HRH The Duke of Kent. Trustees, staff, funders and beneficiaries will be at our beautiful cottages and garden to welcome the Royal Party.

Sand Rose provides breaks for bereaved families. It is based on the simple premise to provide one week self-catering breaks at our cottages to any bereaved family, free of charge – we simply provide the venue for a break.

There is no other national charity providing this specific type of bereavement support. Sand Rose has supported over 400 families since starting 5 years ago. This has included more than 500 children. 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.

We raise awareness of the need for this kind of break amongst national and local bereavement services. 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.

The Duke of Kent, who lost his father in a wartime accident at the age of 7, will be able to meet and talk to bereaved families who have stayed at the cottages.

The Royal Visit provides an opportunity:

To find out more about Sand Rose
To visit our 3 cottages and gardens in Marazion
To see the facilities we offer bereaved families
To raise our profile at local and national level
We are keen to develop links with the military
We would like to attract a patron to our charity
To meet our staff , trustees and funders
To meet some of our beneficiaries
To celebrate our work and achievements
To look ahead to Sand Rose’s aims and plans

Recent Feedback…

From an adult: Our family was close to splitting up owing to the pressure of losing our son but Sand Rose gave us the time to talk to each other.

From a child: Thank you for the space to think about Daddy and our family. The cottage is lovely. We’ve learnt to play games and watch TV together again.

From a nominee: This family really needed a break and benefited enormously from the experience. This break has injected feelings of being positive about the future. Please continue your amazing facilities and support.

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 has shaped the project. 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.

A Cornwall-based 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 also feel we have a strong and unique local identity and we support many families based in Cornwall and the South West.

As a young charity we are at a particular stage where the visit by HRH the Duke of Kent will be immensely significant for us. It will enable us to fully consolidate ourselves as an important part of bereavement support in this country.

Attendance at the event by invitation only. For further details please contact Keith Butterfield, Chair of Trustees 01736 752791 / keithbutterfield@sandrose.org.uk

Notes to editors:

Sand Rose is in a stunning visual location. We have three cottages set within a walled garden overlooking the sea towards St Michael’s Mount. Photographs available.

www.sandrose.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1105464
A Limited Company Registered in England No. 5164405