Funding smiles to brighten up days for Fife youngsters with additional needs

In May locals in the Kingdom took part in the 2.6 Challenge which was set up by organisers of the London Marathon as a way to support and fundraise for charities.

So instead of pounding the streets of London, due to the marathon being postponed, locals were encouraged to complete a challenge using the numbers 2.6 or 26 which are synonymous with the big race – for example doing a run or a jog in 26 minutes.

Fifers took part for the Hearts and Minds charity, which uses the art of therapeutic clowning to bring laughter to children in hospital, hospice care, and special educational need schools and to adults living with dementia in residential care.

They raised £4807 and the charity wanted to make sure the money raised in Fife was spent on virtual clown doctor visits to children and their families across the region.

Some of the funding is being used to run weekly virtual clown doctor visits to families who access Kirkcaldy-based Nourish and its services – and the first visit took place this week.

The Rotary Club of Kirkcaldy has also given the charity £500.

Nourish was founded in 2011 by five parents who felt there was a lack of support for families who had children with additional support needs in the area.

Rebecca Simpson, CEO of Hearts and Minds said: “We wanted to work with Nourish because it is a charity that shares the same ideals and values as we do.

“Both charities know the importance of human connection and creating safe spaces for play for children and their families especially when facing times of adversity.

“A lot of the children and families who access Nourish have met the clowndoctors before at hospital or at respite care at hospices, and are really excited to see them again – but this time in their own homes with their siblings and families.”

Nourish will be co-ordinating the visits and inviting families to take part.

Added Rebecca: “Each weekly session will consist of six individual family visits.

“We currently have eight weekly visits booked in, meaning that potentially the clowndoctors will visit 64 families from across Fife.

“All of the families have children or young people with additional support needs.”

Rebecca added: “Hearts and Minds is absolutely delighted to be able to work with Nourish and support their service to families across Fife and we hope it is a partnership that can grow and develop.”

Lynne Scott, chairman of Nourish has been delighted with the link.

She said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the clown doctors.

“The first session on Monday was amazing.

“It went extremely well and the clown doctors were a huge hit with the children, young people and their parents.

“The families we support all have a child or adult with additional support needs.

“The children who took part were aged between four and 19 and have a wide range of disabilities/health conditions.”

Lynne continued: “We are thrilled to be working with Hearts and Minds.

“As a mum I have seen the joy they bring.

“My son spent a lot of time at the Sick Children’s Hospital in Edinburgh and he and his sisters thoroughly enjoyed weekly visits with the clown doctors.

“We have a number of visits arranged, and sessions for the next three weeks are already filled and we are now starting to take session requests for August.

“The clown doctors are in demand!”

For more information visit Hearts and Minds

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