Grab a whisk and raise some dough for The Sick Children’s Trust. Big Chocolate Tea is back!

The Sick Children’s Trust is asking you to join in its choc-tastic fundraising campaign, Big Chocolate Tea, to support families with seriously ill children in hospital with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation.

Big Chocolate Tea is The Sick Children’s Trust’s biggest annual fundraising event for chocolate, tea and baking lovers – and is back this May for a whole month! Last year, chocola-tea enthusiasts held hundreds of show-stopping events which raised enough money to support 1,167 families with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation, just minutes from their critically ill child’s hospital bedside.

The Sick Children’s Trust runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country, located at leading specialist paediatric hospitals. Every year the charity provides much-needed emotional and practical support to around 4,000 families with seriously ill children in hospital. Although the accommodation is free of charge to families, the charity relies entirely on voluntary donations to run its houses and is calling for the nation to join in with Big Chocolate Tea so it can continue to help thousands of families stay together with their sick child when it matters most.

Jane Featherstone, Chief Executive at The Sick Children’s Trust, says: “Big Chocolate Tea is our biggest and most exciting fundraising campaign of the year! It’s all about getting together with friends and family over the nation’s two loves, cake and tea, while pledging to raise £30 which will support a family with a ‘Home from Home’ for one night when their loved one is in hospital.

“Whether you bake every Sunday or it’s your first time popping on a pinnie, Big Chocolate Tea is something everyone can get involved in. We will even give you a starter pack full of recipes, fundraising ideas and much more to help you on your way. Join us this May and help raise money for families who need a ‘Home from Home’ so they can be there with their critically ill child, supporting their recovery.”

Familiar faces Heart Radio presenter Sian Welby, Channel 5’s Milkshake! presenter, Jen Pringle, and Irish Soprano, Margaret Keys, are already getting involved in the chocola-tea fun. Sian Welby, an ambassador for The Sick Children’s Trust, says:

“After a busy week, there’s nothing I enjoy more than a night in with friends, watching a movie with a hot cup of tea, and indulging in my favourite chocolate treat!

“And what could be better than doing that while raising money for a fantastic cause? If you can help The Sick Children’s Trust by joining in Big Chocolate Tea and raising at least £30, you will be giving a family with a child in hospital the best gift of all. You will be keeping them together, just minutes from their child’s bedside.

“I’ve seen first-hand how much this charity makes a difference to Mums, Dads and kids across the country. You never think about someone you love being ill, but if they are, The Sick Children’s Trust comes to the rescue and makes sure you can all be together. Time is priceless, so please have a biscuit and a brew and help us change lives.”

While the campaign runs during the month of May, supporters can choose to take part in Big Chocolate Tea at any point during the year and will receive a pack full of goodies to help host their event. If participants raise at least £30 during Big Chocolate Tea, they will be able to support a family with ‘Home from Home’ accommodation for one night.

To find out how you can get involved with Big Chocolate Tea, please email bigchoctea@sickchildrenstrust.org or visit www.sickchildrenstrust.org/bigchoctea/.