Julie helped to reduce isolation for many children and families across Scotland

2nd November 2020

Julie Robertson paintings

Submitted by Fiona Harvey, CHAS (Children's Hospices Across Scotland)

Julie Robertson is a dedicated, long-standing volunteer at Rachel House, one of two children’s hospices run by Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). Although not able to be physically present in the hospice during lockdown, Julie became an integral part of the CHAS Virtual Hospice team and helped to reduce isolation for many families across Scotland who were facing a particularly challenging time while caring for a child with a life-shortening condition.

When in the hospice, Julie is a well-known and well-liked member of the Activities Team. She immerses herself in her role and nothing is too silly if it brings a smile to the face of a child. She is patient and encourages the referred children to reach their potential by getting them involved in a variety of creative ways. She can often be found up to her elbows in slime, paint or icing cupcakes. Julie has participated in various outings and events with CHAS children over the years and is more than happy to dress up (or down!) for any occasion.

During lockdown, Julie embraced a new, virtual way of volunteering to provide support to families. She was one of the first CHAS volunteers to sign up to become a storytelling volunteer and combined her skills in Makaton and her innate creativity to deliver storytelling sessions over Zoom that were entertaining and inclusive. She made her own props (including a washing line of cardboard underpants to accompany the Aliens Love Underpants Books) and enthusiastically read stories to children both during “live” storytelling calls and in recorded videos that were available on the CHAS YouTube channel. She recorded Makaton “how to” videos for staff and volunteers of CHAS to increase their ability to communicate with children using the services and she also trained other volunteers to deliver virtual storytelling sessions.

Julie on You Tube
Julie telling stories on Youtube

During the summer holidays, she designed and led virtual crafting sessions for children and families as part of the CHAS Summer Camp. During one of the sessions she taught participants how to make a shoebox aquarium. Each of her virtual volunteering roles required her to get to grips quickly with new technology which never phased her.

In addition, Julie continues to fundraise for CHAS. She is an artist and last year she produced 30 small paintings for CHAS which sold very quickly. This year, she used her time when she wasn’t volunteering during lockdown to complete another 20 paintings. The paintings raised over £600 for CHAS and were sent to buyers as far away as Philadelphia.

Despite the challenges of lockdown and not being able to see her two children, Julie has continued to demonstrate excellence in her volunteer roles with CHAS. Whether getting messy with the Activities Team in Rachel House or bringing stories to life over Zoom, she always has a smile and a good word to say to whoever she meets. She is a positive person to be around and has made a huge difference in helping reduce isolation for families of children with a life-shortening condition during lockdown and beyond.

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