Generous shop customers have the chance to bring a splash of colour to the lives of families being supported by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The charity’s new ‘Help paint a smile’ retail donation campaign is being rolled out in EACH’s 54 stores across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
When paying at the till, customers will have the option to donate an extra 25p, and the target is to raise £25 at every shop during each week of December.
That would be enough to fund a session of art therapy every week for six months.
“Our shops are hubs that bring communities together, helping make a tangible difference to the children and families receiving care and support,” said Genine Woodcock, EACH’s Retail Central Support Manager.
“Now we’re excited to be launching our latest retail donation campaign, giving customers the chance to show their generosity once again by helping fund vital art therapy sessions.
“Of course, there’s no obligation to donate and customers don’t have to give anything extra when they pay for their items.
“However, just 25p would help us greatly, and our goal is to raise £25 a week in every shop from 1st to 28th December.
“It’s an exciting prospect because art therapy is a key part of the service we provide.
“These sessions give children and families the chance to express themselves through creativity, providing a way to express feelings that words can’t capture.”
The ‘Help paint a smile’ campaign follows two other successful retail donation initiatives – Help Hydrotherapy Happen, which raised £11,400, and Let’s Drum Up Funds, which brought in £8,500.
“We set therapeutic aims and work alongside individuals in one-to-one sessions or groups,” said Louise Bush, EACH’s Art Therapist at The Nook.
“The benefits are huge, allowing the child or family member to express thoughts and feelings they may find difficult to put into words.
“It empowers the individual to make creative decisions and focus on what they can control, while art therapy can also be used as a tool to reach a child’s developmental aims, and helps the child or family member relax.”
The overall target donation amount is £5,400. That would be enough to pay for a session of art therapy at a hospice every week for six months.
For more information about art therapy at EACH, click here.
