SUMMER VISIT 2009

This year for us, as for most charities started with a great deal of gloom and uncertainty as to what support would be available, how much money was in circulation and accessible for fundraising and would there be sufficient host families in a position to host the children we intended to bring. Despite the doubt we were still committed to helping the children of Belarus and had reserved 30 seats initially and at the time of booking felt quite confident, but as the recession took hold we began to doubt our ability to sustain our expectations. However after a few articles in the local press and canvassing by link members we managed to fill 28 of our pre booked seats which we were very pleased about. The host families this year as always were a good cross section from the community and included people from all walks of life who all gelled together and got on wonderfully without any social discrimination. Many of the new hosts were of course a little nervous as to what to expect but attending meetings and socials, and talking with the experienced hosts soon allayed any immediate fears and worries. Of course such a large group coming to the link would require a substantial amount of funding, for transport, the visit programme and especially if the £70 visa fee decision didn’t fall in our favour, but luckily for us it only affected children from 14 years onwards, which was good news for us and was potentially a tremendous saving. After a discussion with the treasurer we based our projected budget on our previous year with a few % amendments and set about the daunting task of realising our projected target. Every group has its own way of raising funds depending on its contacts in the group, the region they cover and of course the nature of the charity. Our group is no different and our plans were put into action canvassing all our friends and past supporters for their help. Unfortunately as we had feared some of the past supporters were not in a position to continue their much needed help and some although continuing their help was in a reduced way. It looked as though we had a challenge on our hands to achieve our financial goal but our dear friends and past supporters, members of the group both old and new rose to the challenge and despite a great deal of worry and concern by the 2nd week of the children’s visit we had achieved our target and we were able to cover this year’s expenses once again with a little to carry forward to our next hosting. Without these dear friends and supporters we would not be able to offer such hope to these unfortunate children, and as a totally voluntary charity with neither staffing or on cost all the support donated to the charity is used for its intended purpose.
 The hosting of the children this year was again a wonderful experience for everyone continuing our great friendship with school no.4 in Osipovichi. A school with many needy children we discovered and have supported for many years now and as such have a tremendous relationship with the school, the children, their families and much of the community, all who are most grateful for this great opportunity afforded to the children thanks to your help. Both I and others in the group have visited the school and the town on a regular basis and as such have promoted our ties, have met parents and children due to be hosted and are able to prepare them for their convalescing visit to the UK, answering any questions and allaying any fears especially with situations like the dentists, which the children obviously find a little daunting. Likewise many of the previous children who have been fortunate to have come for respite have told their friends of the wonderful time they have been afforded whilst with us and as such the word has spread. As a group we run an active and varied programme, and although including everyone in the programme are quite conscious of the economics and costs of visits and are most grateful for all the concessions granted to us, and to the generosity of people who help with visits.
                                       
Our priority is to get the children here to our area to improve their health and our visit programme arranged solely on what concessions or support is available for visits, but despite all the financial problems we still maintained support and were able to do most of the usual events such as a visit to the seaside, a Theme Park visit, local places of interest, social nights, disco`s, the Fire Station etc. and of course the trip to the dentists and opticians, which we like to put in on the first week in case of any follow up treatment. Unfortunately for one young man Yahor his teeth required just a little bit more than a follow up and as such went in hospital and had general anaesthetic, which of course required parental permission from Belarus. Yahor`s parents were so pleased that he was getting the treatment here in the UK and so was Yahor who had been in pain for most of the time prior to his visit and whilst here. So 11 teeth less and two fillings more he had a smile back on his face and when asked on his way home about his problem he said he was so glad it was done. Again we are so grateful to all the people who make the children’s visit itinerary possible, by either support or concessions as these visits very often are once in a lifetime experiences for the children and give them experiences and memories to treasure.
                                                      
As hosts we always say that if a hosting period goes quickly then everyone has enjoyed themselves and it seems that this year was one of those occasions with all the hosts commenting on the time flying by and it was not long before we were at Gatwick once again on the return leg. Unfortunately for us the plane was fully booked and although on time we were towards the end of the queue which as many will know is not a favourable position with 28 lots of luggage to sort out and the clock ticking. Despite our best efforts in getting the children through and on to departures the plane was ultimately delayed by an hour, and so task complete our team of exhausted child supports made their way back home to Derbyshire.
Now other than a few telephone calls to say the children are at home safely and a group debrief meeting our hosting year would be almost over, but not so this year, it was to finish as controversial as it started. Firstly some of the luggage did not arrive with the plane which is a little distressing to the particular individuals despite reassurances that it will follow on later, but generally issues like that can be dealt with quite easily. However our second problem did not manifest itself until a few days later when one of the returning children fell ill with a temperature, followed by another five and attended the doctors as advised. Yes you guessed, it was suspected and suggested that the children have `swine flu`. A number of anxious days followed with conversations with our office, our hosts here and the families in Belarus with no one able find the source of infection and none of the host families with any symptoms. It was certainly a puzzle as to where it had come from and what it was. However after a couple of days the affected children were okay and returned home none the worse for their ordeal. Their parents have in turn also played down the experience and are not wholly convinced it was the dreaded `swine flu’ and when asked about their children and their visit to the UK they still remain very grateful for all that has been done for them and when asked if they would allow any of their other children to visit the UK they still remained very grateful and saw no problem. So hopefully following our debrief meeting we will eventually be able to close the door on another hosting year and look forward to our next challenge.  
Written with great thanks to all the wonderful people who have supported and made things possible in this difficult year, and all who have worked so hard to make this difficult year the success it was.
                                                                        Richard A Street (Link Chairman)

A BIG THANK YOU FROM THE CHILDREN & LEADERS OF THE 2009 GROUP
For more information about the work of the Chernobyl Children Life Line
Contact – Richard A Street, 91 Wharf Road, Pinxton, Derbyshire NG16 6LH
Telephone – 01773 810712 or 07815 913787
Or for more information visit our web site on www.ccll-pinxton.co.uk

 

Can you remember the Chernobyl disaster in 1986?
The population of Belarus can."

INTRODUCTION TO THE CCLL

Chernobyl Children Life Line's main aims are:

• To bring child victims of the Chernobyl disaster to the UK for recuperative breaks of 1 month - over 40,000 have been brought over to stay with host families since 1992.
• To provide on-going supplies of multi-vitamins and basic healthcare products to the children on their return (thousands of tonnes in the last 6 years).
• To work with our Belarusian partners in Minsk and Gomel, to locate children who are in need of recuperative care from villages.
• To help children too sick to travel by providing chemotherapy medicines to Children's Cancer Hospitals in Minsk, Gomel and other regions.
• Support with medicines and equipment: The Baby Home in Minsk, and many other orphanages.
• Bring over children to the UK for long term medical care and education.

IN 2007 WE HOPE TO BETTER 2006 AND MAKE IT A SPECIAL YEAR

 

IN 2006, WE CELEBRATED OUR TENTH YEAR IN BRINGING CHILDREN TO THE UK FOR RESPITE CARE!

The PINXTON & EAST DERBYSHIRE LINK was itself formed in 1996. Following the success of our first group of children in Summer 1996, children have been visiting the area for a convalescing break each summer ever since.

The link are very committed volunteers. They raise funds throughout the year to bring Chernobyl children to the UK each summer.