Dartmouth Art & Craft Weekend in aid of Children's Hospice South West

Come and see a wide range of artists at work and buy local works of art. There will be canvas gazebos all over Dartmouth over the weekend.

There will be around 30 artists, sculptors, photographers and other craftworkers displaying their talents, with the aim that the public can watch, and talk to the artists while they work. There will also be fun childrens activities, with teas and good homemade food served by the Children's Hospice volunteers.

This event is organised by Dartmouth & District Friends Group, one of around 40 groups in the South West working voluntarily to support Children's Hospice South West by fundraising for the hospice and raising awareness of its work.

In the South West alone, there are over 1,000 children with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. Children’s Hospice South West was started in 1995 by Jill and Eddie Farwell as a registered charity to provide specialist care and support for these children and their families. Sadly, Jill died in 2004 but her wonderful work continues.

Little Bridge House near Barnstaple was the only children’s hospice in the South West for over ten years and helps over 200 terminally ill children and their families every year. It costs over £2 million a year to run.

The demands on Little Bridge House increased to the extent that there was a vital need for a second hospice in the region. Our new hospice, Charlton Farm in North Somerset, opened to families on 30th April 2007 following an intensive fundraising drive. This hospice doubles the number of children and families for whom we can provide care but it also means that nearly £6 million is needed each and every year to ensure continuity of this care by the two hospices.

Our Precious Lives appeal was launched in September 2007 to enable us to build a third hospice in Cornwall to help meet the needs of terminally ill children and their families in the region. We need to raise a total of £5 million, which will cover the cost of the building and one year’s running costs. The Appeal Fund already stands at over one million pounds but we need all the help we can get to raise the shortfall. Every penny counts.

Our Friends Group meets at 4pm on the first Monday of every month in Foss Street Chapel, Dartmouth and organises events locally to raise money. Volunteers are always most welcome - any help, however little or infrequent, is very much appreciated. Contact Liz Roe on 01803 833232 for details .

Children’s Hospice South West
Making the most of short and precious lives
Registered Charity Number 1003314

Contact details :
Publicity : Sue Tweed
Telephone 01803 770730
email : sue@tweed50.freeserve.co.uk

General enquiries about CHSW and the event :
Liz Roe
Telephone 01803 833232
email : lizandphilroe@btinternet.com