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 23rd & Sunday 24th June 2018
For the 15th year, Dartmouth Art & Craft Weekend in aid of Children’s Hospice South West, will take place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June 2018. 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.
Pitches are available for artists and craft workers to display, demonstrate and sell their work, for which a gazebo will be required, at £50 for the two days, all of which goes to CHSW.
Organised by volunteers from the Dartmouth & District Friends Group of Children’s Hospice South West, the weekend in recent years has raised over £4,000 each year for the charity. Britannia Royal Naval College give invaluable support for the event, and financial help by way of a £1,000 donation, 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 each day.
With 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, the aim is to raise as much money as possible to help Children’s Hospice South West 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. The charity now provides hospice care and support for over 500 families of children with life-limiting conditions from across the South West in their three hospices covering the region. This costs £9.8 million each and every year, of which only 15% 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 this event.  Our friendly group meets regularly to organise events locally and volunteers are always most welcome. For details, contact Sue Tweed: tweed833@btinternet.com or 01803 770730 or Sarah Green on 01803 722340.
