Guest Blog Post – Sue Tweed, Volunteer (Dartmouth & District Friends Group of Children’s Hospice South West)
Dartmouth Art & Craft Weekend in aid of Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW)
Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th June 2019
For the 16th year, Dartmouth Art & Craft Weekend in aid of Children’s Hospice South West, will take place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2019. It is held in Royal Avenue Gardens, Dartmouth from 10am to 4pm daily and is always a very popular event for the public to watch, talk to and buy from artists and craft workers displaying their talents in their gazebos in the Gardens.
This is a sold out event with 40 pitches taken up over the two days by a total of 48 artists and craft workers who will display, demonstrate and sell their work in their individual gazebos, with all of their £50 fee each going to CHSW, along with donations and the proceeds of a few fundraising stalls run by CHSW volunteers, including bottle and toy tombolas.
Organised entirely by volunteers from the Dartmouth & District Friends Group of Children’s Hospice South West, this weekend in recent years has raised over £4,000 every year for the charity, with a record £5,089 raised in 2018. Britannia Royal Naval College give invaluable support for the event, with financial help by way of a £1,000 donation and by providing their Royal Navy Officer Cadets to give very welcome help to the volunteers and artists with setting up and taking down gazebos and equipment during the weekend.
With support also from a range of musical performers, all performing free of charge to help our fundraising efforts, and teas, homemade cakes and snacks provided by Children’s Hospice volunteers and friends, the aim is to raise as much money as possible to help Children’s Hospice South West to make the most of short and precious lives.
The charity was founded by Eddie Farwell and his late wife, Jill, after they experienced for themselves the urgent need for hospice care for children in the South West. Their two eldest children had life-limiting illnesses and they had to travel over four hours, from North Devon to Helen House in Oxford, then the country’s only children’s hospice. Sadly, Jill and the two children died but the couple’s wonderful work continues, with Eddie remaining as CEO. The charity now provides hospice care and support for over 530 families of children with life-limiting conditions from across the South West. With three hospices in the region, meaning that no family has to travel more than 1½ hours to access support, this costs £9.8 million every year. Only 17% of this is provided by government, the rest has to be raised by fundraising.
Our small band of very committed volunteers works hard to raise funds for this extremely worthwhile charity and we would love to see you at our event. Our friendly group meets regularly to organise events locally and new volunteers are always most welcome. For details, contact Sue Tweed at tweed833@btinternet.com or 01803 770730 or Sarah Green on 01803 722340.
