Thank you for taking the time to donate to The Carer Support Team (the "Team").  The Team fundraises under The West Herts NHS Trust Charity. The Team receives no regular funding support from the NHS and is responsible for finding its own funding.

The Team is a new team of volunteers which aims to give practical support to 2000 carers who find themselves on the Starfish Children's Ward (the "Ward") each year at Watford Hospital.  The Ward is usually very busy with 22 beds for children.  Most admissions are unplanned. Carers often lack at 24/7 support network and some have limited English skills.  They are invariably stressed, as they face sitting beside their sick child, often for indeterminable periods of time. 

A Team volunteer may sit with the  child while a carer takes a shower or help the carer compile a list of questions to ask their child's consultant.  The Team will also distribute Information Sheets to Carers which will set out all essential information they need to know about the Ward and the Hospital.  

Questionnaires distributed to 20 carers on the Ward in Oct-Nov 2013 indicated 100% of them would use the Team's services if available.  With funding from the Hertfordshire Community Foundation, the Team is now up and running with 6 Ward volunteers (3 more doing administration). We plan to have a complete Team of 10 Ward volunteers by 2015.

The Team works closely with the nursing staff, relying on them for direction to those carers in most need.  Consultants, doctors and nurses are all very supportive (with many of them sitting on our Management Committee).  

The Team's basic running costs for one year are approximately £2000. This covers volunteer training; basic volunteer uniforms and badges; training resources; and the compilation and distribution of Information Sheets for carers (see above).  

All donations are much appreciated and will be put to good use by the Team.  Many thanks.