Your support helps children with disabilities improve their physical
and psychological wellbeing by going to Sports Camp, a club run thanks
to donations.
Patients and team leaders at Sports Camp
Think back to when you were growing up. Imagine not joining in other
children’s games, simply because you felt like you weren’t able to.
Imagine missing PE because taking part felt too scary, or not being able
to be part of a sports team because there were none available to you.
It’s hard enough as a child, sometimes feeling like you don’t fit in.
But for children with disabilities, these common experiences can make
their already challenging childhood even harder.
Becky Flannery is an Evelina London community physiotherapist based
in Southwark and Lambeth. Her team works with children with a wide range
of disabilities and physical difficulties, treating anything from knock
knees to cerebral palsy.
‘We see a lot of children – particularly the ones with long-term
disabilities - that don’t participate in sport,’ says Becky. ‘Partly
this is a lack of understanding of what’s available. It can also
sometimes be due to negative experiences of sport in the past. They
might have tried things, but because they can’t do the same as the other
children they have been put off.’
Exercise and sports bring important benefits to children with
disabilities, such as improved cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength
and flexibility. Engaging with peers and improving confidence is also
key to their psychological wellbeing.
Thanks to donors, the community physiotherapists were able to address the issues of children missing out on these benefits.
Donations have helped set up Sports Camp, a week-long event run in
the summer holidays for children with disabilities. Activities such as
gymnastics, archery, basketball and go-karting are available and a wide
range of ability levels can take part, from children who can walk
unaided to children who use walkers or wheelchairs.
Funds help to book a range of activities; there’s a disability sports
coach running sessions on boccia and polybat, and even football run by
Millwall FC.
‘The children really enjoy themselves and have an amazing time,’ says
Becky. ‘That’s one of our biggest achievements because we want to show
them that sport can be fun. PE can be a lot of these children’s least
favourite subject sometimes because they don’t enjoy the activities, so
showing them that they can enjoy sport was a massive benefit.’
Another fantastic outcome was showing parents sports that are
available to children with disabilities which they may not have known
about, and putting them in touch with local coaches.
Aida Hagos’ eleven-year-old son, Evenez, has cerebral palsy. He attended Sports Camp in 2014, the first year it ran.
‘It was helpful for him because there’s not that many activities that he can do in his wheelchair, but at Sports Camp he was so happy he could play the sports that they provided,’ says Aida. ‘He tried sports that he’d never tried before, that we didn’t think it was possible for him to do.’
Having loved it so much at Sports Camp, Evenez is now a member of a wheelchair basketball club in Bermondsey, which he goes to every Tuesday. ‘He’s made lots of new friends through that - it’s definitely helped improve his confidence and happiness,’ says Aida.
A second successful year of Sports Camp has just run, with a wider range of activities on offer and higher attendance across the sessions.
‘It’s really good to have an impact like this on the children’s lives,’ says Becky. ‘Improving their strength, flexibility, balance and things like that in clinic is obviously important to their health, but what matters to the children is their hobbies and daily activities. So for them to enjoy a sport and meet other children like them is an amazing thing.
‘I had so many comments from them at the end saying things like, “this was the best day ever”. Comments like that are very sweet and touching.’
Please note, unfortunately, we are unable to take any telephone calls or process any donations by telephone for the immediate and foreseeable future. You can still donate by credit/debit card and/or make a regular gift by Direct Debit. You can also send a cheque too. Thank you very much for your support. We hugely appreciate it.
Go Online through our donation page, make a one-off payment or set up a monthly direct debit.
For a Bank Transfer, please contact our Supporter Care team via email info@supportevelina.org.uk
and we can provide the relevant details.
If you would like to send a donation by cheque, please make this payable to Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital Charity, with 'Evelina London' written on the reverse.
If you can include a covering letter with your contact details as well as reasons for donations and what you would like it to be put towards, we will write to you and let you know when the donation has been received.
Please send the cheque to this address:
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Fundraising Team Fundraising Team Virginia Woolf Building 22 Kingsway, 2nd Floor London
Can you claim Gift Aid on my donation?
Your donations are only eligible for Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer and we have a record of your postcode and donation amount. You must also tick the Gift Aid box on our sponsorship forms (Virgin Money Giving / Just Giving) or donation page.
Please note that we are unable to claim Gift Aid on ticket sales, raffle sales, corporate sponsorship, and sale of goods or auction proceeds.
Can I donate to a specific ward/department within the hospital?
If you would like to help a specific ward or department, we will do our best to find the most appropriate fund for your donation to go towards.
Please note that once a donation has been allocated to a specific fund, we are unable to change this at a later date.
Please also provide some basic information about the item, including how old the item is and we will then be able to confirm if the hospital is able to accept the item.
Please note that we are unable to accept soft toys and toys that cannot be easily cleaned.
If you would like to discuss this more to find out how we can help, please call our Supporter Care team via info@supportevelina.org.uk.
What is your charity number?
Evelina London is part of Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital so does not have a separate registered charity number.
The charity number for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity is 1160316.
What happens to my personal details?
All the personal information about our supporters we collect is processed and stored in accordance with GDPR 2018, and all other applicable data protection laws and regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations (PECR).
If you need a new tin, collection bucket or security seal sticker, then please let us know by contacting us via email at info@supportevelina.org.uk and we can send a replacement out to you. Please note, we currently have limited stock on some items, and there may be some delays with deliveries.
Do you accept donations of clothing?
Clean, plain clothing for adults and children are accepted, items such as jogging bottoms and sweatshirts are ideal. Used underwear is not accepted.
Thank you to everyone who has offered knitted bonding squares for our Neonatal Unit. We’ll let you know if we need more in future but for now, we have plenty. We’ve had so many offers our cupboards are overflowing!
How can I volunteer?
Fundraising volunteers are vital to our work at Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital Charity. You can volunteer with us on events, awareness days, in general or even work with the Fundraising Team.
All our opportunities support our fundraising work and activities, we do not organise volunteering within the hospital. If this is what you are interested in please visit the Guy’s and St Thomas' volunteering page.
Policy for returning donations
We work hard to ensure you have the best supporter journey when you make a donation. Unfortunately, under charity law (The Charities Act 2011) we are unable to refund donations, other than in specific circumstances.
If you believe that a donation you have made should be refunded then please contact via email at info@supportevelina.org.uk and we can advise on what we can do.
Well done Tony, you are a truely amazing little soul!
Tony! What an inspiration you are, so young, so brave and doing incredible things. Keep going and well done for absolutely smashing your target; it is going to an amazing cause and we love watching your journey. You can do it! X x
Dear Tony, what a beautiful, special, precious little boy you are. You are very brave and strong. You are an inspiration to us all. I hope your legs feel good and help you take on your challenge. You can do it!!👍🥰 I've donated because you made me so proud. Lots of love always Jude xxx
You are such an amazing superhero! Keep up the wonderful things you are doing!😀👍🚑🏃
Well done Tony on your 10km walk. We followed your progress. You are a brave little boy. We wish you well! Love xx
You are amazing and an inspiration to everyone - there's nothing you can't do or achieve in this life! Thank you so much
Caroline and Sarah, at The Cardiology Kids launch party in the park
George with his family
Thank you for everything you are doing. So proud of our NHS - heroes don’t all wear capes! Thank you for everything you do for us all and keep as safe as you can all of you. xx
You are all heroes and should be proud of yourselves as we are of you. No words of thanks can ever express the debt of gratitude.
You have looked after my daughter with such care, too which I am eternally grateful. Thank you.
I had my cancer treatment there, undoubtedly saved my life. Thank you.
I was born at Guy's hospital in 1974, and was treated in St Thomas' in 2003, where I was seriously ill for 13 weeks. Thank you for not only giving me life, but saving it too! X
Guy's and St Thomas' have looked after me so well over many years. Thank you for all those years and for everything you are doing in an unimaginably difficult time. Thinking of you and your families at this time. x
You saved my life when I had cancer. Thank you for then and thank you for now. x
The NHS saved my wife’s life 3 times. We love the nurses, doctors, specialists, secretaries - everyone. You are heroes. Sending hope and love.
You are all amazing and will be remembered in history. Stay strong.
Thank you isn’t enough, so a thousand times more.
You are all amazing and do an incredible job. Filled with gratitude and heartfelt thanks.
You are all phenomenal. Thank you so much.
Wishing you well during this crisis. You are all heroes and deserve the support of the whole nation.
From one nurse to all the others all over the world fighting Covid-19 and all the health professionals, I know this word and term is overused but this time it is a real meaning in the truest form of the word: You are all LEGENDS!
How can we ever repay you for what you are doing for us? Thinking of you all. The NHS means everything. Make sure you're looking after your own wellbeing as much as possible. Take care x
You are all genuine heroes. Each and every one of you!
You are all wonderful, heroic people. You save lives every day and you really, really make a difference. We salute you and send big hugs to keep you going. xx