Staff at Edwards Harvey are helping to raise funds for a unique hospice service that provides care for sick children in their own homes.

Our team collected 12 sacks of donated clothing, linen, toys, games, books and bric-a-brac for ‘chYps’, the Children and Young People’s Service of the EllenorLions Hospices, after organising a De-Clutter Day.

All the items will be sold to help fund the service, which will enable children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions to stay with their families and receive clinical care and support at home.

Managing director Pip Clarkson said: “chYps aims to raise £248,000 in the next year, which will enable it to support at least 100 children and their families. For our De-Clutter Day, we all brought in a sack of unwanted items and the charity sent a collection van to our offices – it couldn’t have been simpler.

“Our De-Clutter Day was easy to organise and is something other businesses should consider along with any other kind of in-house fund-raising event, sponsorship or a straightforward donation.”

chYps has been providing full hospice care to families in Swanley, Dartford, Gravesham and Bexley for nearly 20 years. Now the charity is working in partnership with the NHS West Kent to extend the service to Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. It’s the only service in the area to offer ‘at home’ hospice care to children and people under 18.

chYps is already helping 19 children in the new catchment area and estimates that a further 200 need its support. But more funding is required before the organisation can roll out full 365-day, 24-hour care.

For more information and ideas about how to support chYps, visit http://www.chyps.org/