Our Story:
When my son AJ was diagnosed with a life-limiting condition, we knew that time was precious. Since then, I’ve dedicated my life to creating opportunities for families like ours to find joy, connection, and faith, no matter how challenging the journey. At AJ And Friends CIC, we provide life-changing experiences for children with complex needs and their families—helping them make memories that matter.
We’re raising £100,000 per year to fund three vital services that support families:
1. Respite Care:
• Hourly Care Costs: £38.88 per hour with most sessions requiring two carers, senior care assistant, one office administrator, HR, insurance, accounting fees, operational costs & RM as a minimum to run one hour of support.
• Full Day Respite: £622.08 per session, covering trained staff, activities, transport, food, and care.
• 24-Hour Overnight Respite: £1,244.16 per child for a full day and night in our purpose-built respite centres—a “holiday from home.”
2. Pilgrimage of Hope:
• Cost per Family: £4,000 to take a family on a 7-10 day pilgrimage from the UK to Lourdes, France. This includes accessible transport, accommodation, care staff, and meaningful experiences like Disneyland Paris and faith-based reflection in Lourdes.
• Each family receives tailored support, ensuring every moment is safe, joyful, and memorable.
3. Sustaining Core Services:
• We provide early intervention programs, counselling, and therapy to help families build resilience and embed our core values: Purpose, Empathy, Accountability, Community, and Excellence (PEACE).
• Our team offers bespoke one-on-one support, cutting through long waiting lists to make an immediate impact.
How Will We Use the Funds?
• £4,000 sponsors one family on a pilgrimage.
• £622 covers a full day respite session for one child.
• £1,244 provides a 24-hour overnight stay.
• Your donations also help maintain our dedicated team, who deliver high-quality care and support across all services.
We believe that every family, regardless of income, should have access to these transformative experiences. With your help, we can ensure that families facing life-limiting diagnoses can still find joy, faith, and hope.
AJ and I are on this journey together, and we want to invite other families to come along with us. Whether it’s a day out, a much-needed break, or a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage, your support makes it all possible.
Donate today and be part of something truly life-changing. Together, we can make magic happen.