Charities
Together for Short Lives
Twelve years in partnership, raising over £3 million to help seriously ill children and their families create precious memories
About Together for Short Lives
There are 49,000 children and young people in the UK living with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. Together for Short Lives is the leading UK charity for all children living with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition and those who support, love and care for them, including the UK’s 54 children’s hospices. Their work helps to ensure that these children and their families can get the best possible care, wherever and whenever they need it.
Making a difference to your communities
There are 54 children’s hospices across the UK. Local children’s hospice services are there from the moment of diagnosis throughout a child’s illness. They provide flexible, practical and free support at home or in the hospice to the entire family, often over many years.
Each Hobbycraft store is partnered with their nearest children’s hospice, meaning that local families directly benefit from money raised locally.
Hunter and his family are supported by their local children’s hospice, Julia’s House Children’s Hospice.
Hunter and his family feature in our very special festive charity film. Hunter (3) has vocal cord paralysis and has a tracheotomy – a tube through his neck into his throat - to keep his airway open. His older sister, Darcie was born with the same condition. "I was terrified about how I was going to cope with two poorly children to look after,” says Mum Lydia, “thankfully the Julia’s House nurses and carers are calm in a crisis."
Their family find the support they get from Julia’s House invaluable. Mum Lydia explains, "When Julia’s House are coming the children get so excited; they literally jump up and down. The care team do baking, bubbles or play outside with them. We have weekly care sessions at home and then once a month I take them to the hospice. I choose to have Darcie and Hunter’s care sessions at the same time so that I can get a complete break."
What we do
Across our business Hobbycraft colleagues raise vital funds for children’s hospice in a variety of ways. In-store our carrier bag levy is donated to Together for Short Lives and when paying by chip and pin at the till our customers are invited to donate 20p via Pennies, the digital charity box.
Our stores also host regular fundraising events that both colleagues and customers are encouraged to take part in. From crafting stations to cake sales there are many opportunities to get involved and donate. Outside of the stores our colleagues take part in all sorts of challenge events to raise money including the London Marathon, countryside treks and even a coast to coast cycle.
You can keep up to date with our latest fundraising news on your local store’s page.
