Meet Children’s Respite Trust

Meet Children’s Respite Trust, our Charity of the Year.

This incredible local charity supports children with additional needs and their families by providing respite care and family activities that can make a real difference to everyday life.

Here at Sharnfold Farm, we are incredibly proud to support Children’s Respite Trust and the amazing work they do across Sussex. This summer, we were delighted to welcome families from the Trust for a special day out on the farm, creating lasting memories together. We are also excited to continue supporting the charity throughout the year with fundraising events and community partnerships.

Children’s Respite Trust through the years

Children’s Respite Trust was founded in 2010 with a simple but powerful mission: to support families living with the daily challenges of caring for a disabled child. At the time, the demand for respite care far outweighed the number of places available, leaving many families without the support they desperately needed.

What began as a small campaign to help a handful of local families quickly grew into something much bigger. Later that year, the Trust became a company limited by guarantee, before officially gaining charitable status in February 2011.

By the end of 2012, Children’s Respite Trust had already helped numerous families enjoy much needed respite breaks. The following year, they expanded their services by commissioning specialist care staff to support families directly in their homes and communities, gradually building a dedicated community care team serving families across Sussex.

As the charity continued to grow, it became clear that families also needed a welcoming place to meet, connect and access support outside of their homes. By 2017, Children’s Respite Trust had found its permanent home, creating a vibrant community hub where families could attend events, access services and build lasting friendships. Around the same time, the charity celebrated supporting its 100th family, a remarkable milestone in its journey.

Like many charities, Children’s Respite Trust faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these difficulties, they continued to grow and adapt. During this period, the charity became Ofsted registered and launched Little Stars, a specialist nursery for children with additional needs.

Little Stars welcomes children from the age of two, providing early years support for both children and their families as they begin to navigate diagnoses, therapies and the challenges that can come with them.

Children’s Respite Trust recognises that a child’s diagnosis affects the whole family. That’s why they also introduced dedicated support groups for siblings, giving brothers and sisters the opportunity to build friendships, share experiences and enjoy activities in a safe, supportive environment.