The feeding parents of children in hospitals was a priority for Sophie Fairall who in 2021 died from a rare form of cancer aged ten years old. Throughout her treatment Sophie and her mum Charlotte (Founder and CEO) could never understand why parents were not provided with a meal when staying with their child. Sophie’s plans became the vision for the charity.

 The funds you help to raise will enable us to provide Cook meals for parents of children who are being cared for on 13 children’s wards at Southampton General Hospital including Neonatal Intensive Care and Teenage Cancer.

 When parents arrive at hospital with their child, they often are in a state of stress sometimes panic and the last thing on their mind when they leave home is to bring food and essential items for their own wellbeing. Sometimes a stay can be several hours and the average stay is two days. Accessing and being able to afford food is a huge issue; only 30% of hospitals feed the parent that stays and the cost for one parent to eat in a hospital is £18 a day. Most parents will simply not eat and that has a detrimental impact on their own wellbeing, and their child’s as they are less able to cope and make informed decisions.

Sophie's Legacy strives to minimise stress and distress for parents of children that are hospitalised by ensuring their basic needs are met. This will be through the provision of Cook meals to provide healthy and nutritious food for parents. Addressing parents' basic needs in hospital supports their well-being and plays a critical role in the overall healing and recovery process for the child.