Jo, a sibling supported in the early 1990s

When Jo was eight, her sister, aged 13, was diagnosed with cancer. It was an extremely challenging time for the whole family and had a big impact on Jo.

Jo and her family also stayed at Rainbow House. Jo reminisced about how going there felt like going on holiday, to a home away from home.

She remembers creating a racing circuit in the garden to ride her bike around, going fishing in a big Volvo, waking up to the smell of toast, her mum chatting to the Family Support Workers, playing games in the evening with her family, and spending a long time in the playroom on the rocking horse, which today sits in Rainbow Trust’s Head Office.

“We felt important at Rainbow House. That place was our sanctuary. We had time with mum, we could all just stop.”

Jo is now married with two children, is working part time for a borough council, is studying to become a Therapeutic Counsellor and still loves being creative through dress making and crafts.

Jo skipping with Family
Support Workers

Jo at Rainbow House

Family Support Workers Tina and Moira supported the family, offering sibling support for Jo and her brother. These moments were very special to Jo and helped her to understand what was going on with her sister.

Jo said: “I completely understand, first hand, how Rainbow Trust’s support can shine a light in the dark, how when everything seems like it has changed forever, you can get through it with a little help.”

Tina and Moira did lots of arts and crafts with Jo and her brother and took them on days out. They also brought round a Mr Men book for Jo and her brother to colour in which explained about her sister’s illness and why their mum had to spend a lot of time at the hospital.

Rainbow Trust opened two respite homes, Rainbow House and Rainbow Fernstone, in the 1990s where seriously ill children and their families could stay. The houses were also the base for Family Support Workers that helped families in their own homes.

The houses closed in 2009 to allow for more families to be supported in their own homes and in the community.

Donate to support more families, like Jo’s

Jo, a sibling supported in the early 1990s

When Jo was eight, her sister, aged 13, was diagnosed with cancer. It was an extremely challenging time for the whole family and had a big impact on Jo.

Family Support Workers Tina and Moira supported the family, offering sibling support for Jo and her brother. These moments were very special to Jo and helped her to understand what was going on with her sister.

Jo said: “I completely understand, first hand, how Rainbow Trust’s support can shine a light in the dark, how when everything seems like it has changed forever, you can get through it with a little help.”

Tina and Moira did lots of arts and crafts with Jo and her brother and took them on days out. They also brought round a Mr Men book for Jo and her brother to colour in which explained about her sister’s illness and why their mum had to spend a lot of time at the hospital.

Jo and her family also stayed at Rainbow House. Jo reminisced about how going there felt like going on holiday, to a home away from home.

She remembers creating a racing circuit in the garden to ride her bike around, going fishing in a big Volvo, waking up to the smell of toast, her mum chatting to the Family Support Workers, playing games in the evening with her family, and spending a long time in the playroom on the rocking horse, which today sits in Rainbow Trust’s Head Office.

“We felt important at Rainbow House. That place was our sanctuary. We had time with mum, we could all just stop.”

Jo is now married with two children, is working part time for a borough council, is studying to become a Therapeutic Counsellor and still loves being creative through dress making and crafts.

Jo skipping with Family
Support Workers

Jo at Rainbow House

Jo, a sibling supported in the early 1990s

When Jo was eight, her sister, aged 13, was diagnosed with cancer. It was an extremely challenging time for the whole family and had a big impact on Jo.

Family Support Workers Tina and Moira supported the family, offering sibling support for Jo and her brother. These moments were very special to Jo and helped her to understand what was going on with her sister.

Jo said: “I completely understand, first hand, how Rainbow Trust’s support can shine a light in the dark, how when everything seems like it has changed forever, you can get through it with a little help.”

Tina and Moira did lots of arts and crafts with Jo and her brother and took them on days out. They also brought round a Mr Men book for Jo and her brother to colour in which explained about her sister’s illness and why their mum had to spend a lot of time at the hospital.

Jo and her family also stayed at Rainbow House. Jo reminisced about how going there felt like going on holiday, to a home away from home.

She remembers creating a racing circuit in the garden to ride her bike around, going fishing in a big Volvo, waking up to the smell of toast, her mum chatting to the Family Support Workers, playing games in the evening with her family, and spending a long time in the playroom on the rocking horse, which today sits in Rainbow Trust’s Head Office.

“We felt important at Rainbow House. That place was our sanctuary. We had time with mum, we could all just stop.”

Jo is now married with two children, is working part time for a borough council, is studying to become a Therapeutic Counsellor and still loves being creative through dress making and crafts.

Jo skipping with Family
Support Workers

Jo at Rainbow House

Rainbow Trust opened two respite homes, Rainbow House and Rainbow Fernstone, in the 1990s where seriously ill children and their families could stay. The houses were also the base for Family Support Workers that helped families in their own homes.

The houses closed in 2009 to allow for more families to be supported in their own homes and in the community.

Donate to support more families, like Jo’s

Rainbow Trust opened two respite homes, Rainbow House and Rainbow Fernstone, in the 1990s where seriously ill children and their families could stay. The houses were also the base for Family Support Workers that helped families in their own homes.

The houses closed in 2009 to allow for more families to be supported in their own homes and in the community.

Donate to support more families, like Jo’s