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We are a registered Charity (1145013) formed by volunteer parents of children with cardiac disease who rely on the services provided by Ocean Ward and it’s team of specialist and dedicated staff.
We have strong links with the ward with a representative from Ocean Ward involved in strategic planning and decision making . This enables us to stay abreast of the day to day needs of families being cared for on Ocean Ward.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to provide emotional and financial support to families making use of the facilities on Ocean Ward.
Our aim is to help bridge the gap between home and hospital by putting families in touch with others whose child has a similar condition and experiences similar problems and issues. This is especially important as the paediatric cardiac unit in Southampton treats children not only in the local area but also heart children as far down as Devon, Cornwall, across to West Sussex and Wiltshire.
Due to the recently formed Southampton / Oxford network, Ocean Ward now treats patients previously treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital and from the Oxfordshire area.
HOW ARE FUNDS USED?
A large proportion of our funds are used to assist families during long stays on Ocean Ward by way of a hardship payment. We purchase and replenish toys, tv’s, laptops (with internet access), games consoles, dvd’s, all for the pleasure and use by children and families on Ocean Ward. We offer fun family days out at little or no cost to the family. Our first Christmas Party in 2011 was a huge success with Santa delivering presents for the heart children and their siblings and these are now held annually.
Where needed we are able to purchase essential equipment to assist families caring for their child at home.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
In its short existence the Charity has set up a website and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/149209835097519/). We use this to communicate social and educational events and to inform families about life on Ocean Ward.
July 2010 – Families of Ocean Ward Trust was established
August 2010 – 1st Paultons Park Day Out
September 2010 – 1st Pulse Festival
October 2010 – July 2011 – Safe and Sustainable Review Campaigning
May 2011 – Chamberlayne Fun Day
June 2011 – Trip to Downing Street to submit Daily Echo Have a Heart Petitions
August 2011 – 2nd Paultons Park Day Out
September 2011 – 2nd Pulse Festival and Families of Ocean Ward Stall
December 2011 – We gained registered Charity status
December 2011 – Our 1st Christmas Party
April 2012 – Easter Egg Competition
May 2012 – Website relaunch
July 2012 – Safe and Sustainable Announce Results of successful cardiac surgical units
July 2012 – Paultons Park
September 2012 – Pulse Festival and stall
December 2012 – Christmas Party
June 2013 – Paultons Park
December 2013 – Christmas Party
May 2014 – Pulse Festival and stall- http://www.pulsefestival.org.uk/2014/
June 2014 – Paultons Park
November 2014 – Christmas Party
Summer 2015 – Teen Event – Quad Biking
July 2015 – Paultons Park
November 2015 – Christmas Party
January 2016 – The Bounce Department Free Social Event & Sponsored Bounce
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Raffle prizes for our Christmas Party Raffle (from a bottle of something to an extra special treat)
Organise your own fundraising event – we can help to advertise the event when set up.
Just Giving – http://www.justgiving.com/familiesofoceanward
By TEXT – Text FOOW01 £5 (or £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, £10) to 70070, you will receive a confirmation text confirming your donation and a message asking for you to gift aid it. If you can please do so as we get an extra 28% per donation from the tax man.
All charity trustees and volunteers are CRB checked and also registered under the Hospital’s Volunteer Service.
Further information about Families of Ocean Ward can be found at the Charity Commission.