University donates art supplies for children’s charity

Almost 50 arts and crafts activity packs have been donated to Rainbow Trust, following a collection drive by staff from the University of Reading, to help support families caring for a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

Earlier this year, Rainbow Trust was chosen as the University’s inaugural Charity of the Year for 2024/25.

A total of 48 activity packs, containing items such as pens, paper and arts and crafts materials, will be distributed to families supported by Rainbow Trust in the Thames Valley area.

They will help Rainbow Trust’s Family Support Workers to provide vital practical and emotional support to families.

These crafts will offer a quiet opportunity for Family Support Workers to connect with healthy siblings, who may be feeling left out and alone; provide respite for parents who may be feeling overwhelmed and will provide distraction to seriously ill children, creating happy memories for families to cherish.

Natalie Whitby-Lear, the Thames Valley Family Support Manager at Rainbow Trust, said: “The donated arts and crafts materials, help us provide simple, yet meaningful, distraction to families caring for a seriously ill child.

“We use them at drop-in groups and support groups which provide a safe space for activities for healthy siblings and seriously ill children and a chance for parents to relax, knowing that their child is safely cared for.” 

Collection points were set up at five locations across the University’s Whiteknights, London Road and Greenlands campuses and items were donated over a three-week period. The University’s Charity of the Year team then collated the items into activity packs. 

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “The University is proud to be supporting Rainbow Trust as our Charity of the Year.

“These simple arts and crafts items will provide some much-needed relief for children, and their parents, during difficult times. The thought and generosity shown by my colleagues is truly wonderful to see, especially at this time of year.”

Further support for Rainbow Trust

The University has been supporting Rainbow Trust in others ways too.

• The Reading Rotary Santa Run was once again hosted on the Whiteknights campus this year, with Rainbow Trust being one of the beneficiaries of funds raised. Approximately 500 runners took part, with routes for all ages and abilities.
• University staff have taken advantage of the University’s new volunteering policy, Time to Make a Difference, to take time out of their working day to volunteer at a gift-wrapping stall at The Malls shopping centre in Basingstoke. 13 staff members helped wrap gifts to raise funds and awareness for Rainbow Trust.
• An online donation page has been set up, allowing the University of Reading community to donate directly to Rainbow Trust.

The University will continue to work with Rainbow Trust until June 2025. Applications for the next Charity of the Year will open in spring 2025.

More information about the Charity of the Year scheme is available online.

Image credits: Image 1 and 3 - University of Reading

Image 2: Bexboater Photography