Easter Egg Delivery for Children at Cherry Trees

Published on: 7 Apr, 2012
Updated on: 10 Apr, 2012

Children at Cherry Trees respite care centre in East Clandon will have plenty of Easter eggs to take home after their stay courtesy of a Guildford funeral directors and a local church.

St Francis’ Church in Westborough supports Cherry Trees as part of its outreach, and this Easter has had extra support from Co-op Funeralcare on Woodbridge Hill.

Everyone, including visitors, joined in the fun at Cherry Trees with children's TV presenter and entertainer Dave Benson Philips on hand with his fun songs. Easter eggs were donated by St Francis' Church and Co-op Funeralcare. The children will take their eggs home after their stay

The funeral drectors has been asking people to donate Easter Eggs, and with additional eggs from the young people’s group at St Francis Church, JIMS, more than 50 chocolate eggs were hand delivered to Cherry Trees today (Saturday, April 7).

The Rev’d Stefanie Hodges, Team Rector of St Francis’ Church, Karin Lewis from Co-op Funeralcare, and children from the church dropped into Cherry Trees with the eggs.

They met some of the children staying there and got a big surprise as larger than life TV children’s presenter Dave Benton Phillips was there entertaining everyone with his fun songs. He was more than pleased to join in with the official photo!

The Rev’d Stefanie Hodges said: “We fully support Cherry Trees and the fantastic work it does for all the young people with severe learning and physical disabilities who go there. Some of our younger church members were visiting for the first time, while others were returning after visiting a couple of weeks ago. I would also like to thank Karin from Co-op Funeralcare for donating and collecting the Easter eggs.”

Diane Peters from St Francis Chucrh, who is one of the organisers of its young people’s group, added: “The young people at Cherry Trees enjoy being with our young people and our youngsters enjoy being with them.

“They have agreed to help with Cherry Trees’ Christmas party, taking round teas and cakes, and with their Christmas service. They are already involved in collecting toys each Christmas.”

Cherry Trees provides home from home respite care for children and young people with severe learning and physical disabilities. It recognises that these children are best looked after at home but, because of their very special needs, they require very special care, often 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

From time to time both they and their families need a break. Cherry Trees is a special place, providing professional care in a safe and loving environment, where every child is valued for who they are. It is a community that values them and enables them to spend time with friends whilst their families have a much-needed break.

Cherry Trees was founded in 1980 by a group of parents and doctors. It has become a lifeline for the families of more than 100 children and young people who are regularly cared for here – for a few hours, a weekend or even a couple of weeks.

For more information about Cherry Trees click here.