Reuben’s Retreat is calling on businesses and individuals across Tameside and beyond to help raise the final £1 million needed to complete its long-awaited retreat for families of children with complex medical needs and those who have experienced the loss of a child.
The Glossop-based charity has launched its Brick By Brick campaign as it prepares to begin the final stage of building work at the former Woods Hospital site later this year.
The campaign invites supporters to sponsor engraved toy bricks, which will become part of a permanent wall of gratitude within the retreat. Donations of £123 per brick will help fund the final phase of the project, with businesses able to create branded sections of the wall and individuals choosing bricks in memory of loved ones.
Founded in 2012 following the death of Reuben Michael Graham, aged just 23 months, Reuben’s Retreat has spent more than a decade developing a place where families facing unimaginable challenges can find respite, support and the opportunity to create lasting memories together.
The final two-year construction programme will see four self-catering holiday suites built and fully furnished. Two of the suites will be fully accessible, featuring hoist systems and spacious layouts designed to accommodate families with more than one wheelchair user.
Once completed, the retreat will welcome families from across the UK, providing holidays that are often out of reach for those caring for children with complex medical needs.
Nicola Graham, founder of Reuben’s Retreat and Reuben’s mum, said: “We really hope to break ground this autumn. This vision is about more than a build, it’s about making sure more families have the chance to create lasting memories together, particularly those who might not have that opportunity otherwise. The continued support of our much-loved local community, who have been instrumental in getting us this far, will be key to helping us maintain this momentum and deliver on our goal.”
She added: “Once we complete the retreat, we can invite people from all over the UK, potentially worldwide, to be able to stay. Holidays are often impossible for families of children with complex needs, but a change of scenery does everyone the world of good and it’s so important to be able to create precious memories.
“Corporate partnerships and support from generous and kind-hearted individuals are vital to helping us reach the finish line of the build. There is no finish line overall as we want Reuben’s Retreat to be here in the heart of the community for decades to come, helping more and more families.”
The charity currently costs around £500,000 a year to operate, with annual running costs expected to double once the new facilities are complete.
Supporters wishing to take part in the Brick By Brick campaign can sponsor an engraved brick or make a donation towards helping Reuben’s Retreat complete its vision and expand the support it offers to families during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
To buy a brick www.givengain.com/project/reubens-raising-funds-for-reubens-retreat-94957 or to find or more information or to donate visit www.reubensretreat.org/get-involved/donate/