We were thrilled to be able to bring 11 young people and their families to the Riding House Café in Bloomsbury recently for a gorgeous afternoon tea!
We were joined by some of our amazing entertainers who many of the children would have recognised from visits in hospital. Magicians Nick and Sacha put on a great show, while Judge the Poet performed his spontaneous poetry and Marina who did arm and face painting.
The day was a chance for the group to spend time with others their age going through similar experiences as them. Having this shared connection can be vital for young people, to feel that they aren’t alone in their experiences. Many of the patients we support are required to spend extended periods of time in isolation, which means they are unable to socialise with other children their age or attend school full time.
Being able to enjoy time out of a hospital environment with their family is also a rarity and can be a huge relief, as they may not otherwise be able to. The families we support often say that the events we do have as much of an impact on the parents and siblings as the child in hospital themselves. We’re privileged to be able to provide these experiences for so many, alongside our work in hospitals.
Riding House Cafe put on an incredible selection of both savoury and sweet treats! The mac & cheese was a real favourite, while the donuts, red velvet cake, and pancakes made a great spread.
We began our partnership with Riding House Cafés last year, and have since been fortunate enough to bring a number of the families we support to their locations across London. We can’t thank them enough for all their support in hosting these days and putting on an amazing selection of food. They also continue to donate to us regularly through 25p added on to each customer’s bill.