The Chairman of Huntingdonshire District Council, Cllr Peter Bucknell, has nominated Dreamdrops as one of his charities to support during 2016/2017.

Cllr Bucknell visited the children’s unit at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, run by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, on Thursday 17 November where he met with Anne-Marie Hamilton, Chairman of the Dreamdrops charity.

Cllr Bucknell said: “I wanted to support children, carers (both adult and children), and bereaved adults, in the local community and chose Dreamdrops as one of my three charities to support.”

The visit included a tour around the Children’s Outpatient Unit at Hinchingbrooke Hospital where Anne-Marie Hamilton explained how the money raised for the charity benefits children who are sick and are nursed either in hospital or in the community.

Anne-Marie said: “Dreamdrops was set up with the aim of raising money to buy all those little (and large) extras that are not covered by NHS public funds but which make a hospital stay more comfortable - or less stressful - for children and their families.

“Past donations have been used to purchase play equipment for hospitalised children and those awaiting their appointment, a sensory garden at the hospital and sensory equipment, a Wendy House for the outside play area, new chairs on the Special Care Baby Unit for breastfeeding mothers and screens to preserve their privacy, as well as a camera to provide photographs for parents of their newborns.

“The charity's work doesn't just stop at the hospital door, as funds are also used to help sick children who are being cared for at home.  We are extremely grateful to Cllr Bucknell for choosing Dreamdrops as one of his charities to support this year.”

For more information on Dreamdrops, or if you would like to raise money for the charity, please contact the Charity Administrator on 07790 911541 or via email at dreamdrops.dreamdrops@nhs.net.

Photo: In the parents day room with (from left to right)  Sarah Hughes - Matron,  Anne Marie Hamilton – Chairman of dreamdrops,  Cllr Peter Bucknell – Chair of Hunts DDC and Mike Andrews, Vicechairman of dreamdrops,  Sandie White, Ward Sister.