Chestnut Tree House - ‘a lifeline’

I have just been compiling the results of this year’s questionnaire and it makes me feel very proud to read the lovely comments, some of which included:

“We love Chestnut Tree House. It is our lifeline.”

“We felt immediately at ease. Although we’re fairly new to Chestnut Tree House, we can already tell it’s a very special place.”

“You cannot improve on excellent.”

The food we provide scored a very high 94 per cent positive rating and the standard of cleanliness an excellent 100 per cent.

There were few comments which give me areas to improve on, such as looking at different food options for those that are vegetarian.

As a charity with limited funding, we do have to prioritise and spend money very wisely.

Our services need to evolve to continually to meet the changing needs of the children we care for and their ever-increasing complexity of conditions.

Following the questionnaire results, I draw up an action plan which details the areas we need to work on next, and also the things we want to do further down the line, if budgets allow.

The one thing that always comes out of the questionnaire is just how highly people think of our wonderful staff. There are so many lovely comments and that makes me very proud.

Chestnut Tree House, in Dover Lane, Arundel, cares for over 280 children and young adults from 0-25 years of age with progressive life-limiting conditions.

For more information on Chestnut Tree House visit the website www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk