Hospice Awareness Week is our most significant opportunity to increase public awareness about hospice care as well as raising essential funds. HospiceWaikatoneeds to raise $1.9 million every year so that we can continue to provide our services to the community at no charge.

Watch this space as we will have exciting events for Hospice Awareness week 2012.

 Organise your own fundraising event, hold a quiz night, a movie night, a sports challenge, auction or a dinner party and have fun while raising funds for hospice!

Contact us for more information on organising your own fundraiser event.

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The winners of the annual Every Child Counts Awards were announced today at a special ceremony at parliament, hosted by the Minister for Social Development, Hon Paula Bennett. The annual Every Child Counts Awards celebrate the individuals and organisations working to improve the status and wellbeing of New Zealand children.

“The Every Child Counts Awards celebrate some of the amazing work people are doing in support of children and families. We want to highlight that work and encourage others to invest themselves in working for children too. There is no work more important than this,” said Liz Gibbs, Chair of Every Child Counts.

Organisational winner

The winner of the Every Child Counts organisational award is Rainbow Place – the Children & Young Peoples’ service of Hospice Waikato. Hospice Waikato is the only hospice in New Zealand to have a totally separate, designated service for children. Rainbow Place has grown from small beginnings in 2003 to a case load of 300+ in 2011. The service supports children and young people who have a life limiting or life threatening illness, or who are going through change, loss and grief because of the serious illness and/or death of a loved one. They believe passionately that children are not little adults, and that they need very different and specialised support and care. Packages of care include one on one counselling, family therapy and group workshops. The team can provide art therapy, play therapy and sand play therapy to name but a few.

Every Child Counts is a coalition led by Barnardos, Plunket, UNICEF, Save the Children and Te Kahui Mana Ririki working to increase the status and wellbeing of New Zealand children. www.everychildcounts.org.nz

Press Release from Scoop.

Press Release also on Stuff.co.nz. Please click here to view.