About us
Time is Precious is a voluntary run charity which has been running since 2011. It was set up by Neil and Nicky Halford in memory of their son Ben who sadly died from cancer in 2010. He was cared for at Bristol Children’s Hospital, Frenchay and RUH children’s ward for almost four years.
Time is Precious aims to create a more comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for children and their families in hospital or at home.
The charity works alongside specialists to purchase equipment and refurbish areas to support children whose illness or disability means long hospital stays for treatment. This equipment also helps family members who want to be with them because time is just that precious.
We can help at home
Ben’s Gift.
Our aim is to help as many children as possible who may need extra equipment not supplied by the NHS at home. This could include sensory equipment and specialised devices such as Eye Gaze Communication. Every child is unique & will need different equipment to suit them, by working alongside hospital staff we can ensure that the needs of each child are correctly met.
For more information about Ben’s Gift click here
Hospital life can be extremely stressful when you have an ill child. Time is precious purchase amazing equipment to help the children relax, as well as helping to distract them from traumatic procedures.
Family and friends like to visit young patients, but visits can be cut short because it is difficult keeping brothers and sisters entertained. We want to make visiting times the best we can for everyone so they can enjoy playing games, chatting and just being a family.
Hospital Wards, play and physiotherapy departments often need extra funding for resources and equipment as hospital budgets are limited.
The charity aims to fund the departments by raising monies to purchase equipment for the patients to use during their time in the hospital.
The main hospitals that benefit from our fundraising are:
Bristol Children's Hospital
The Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC) provides a local service for Bristol children and a referral service for specialist care for families across the South West and nationally.
Time is Precious supports all wards, including the play & physio departments. We have funded many projects, including a therapy room and a parent room. We also provide essential equipment which helps to distract children and keep them entertained.
RUH Bath Children's Ward
Time is Precious supports the children’s ward by supplying resources such as iPads, sensory equipment and reclining chairs, for parents to stay by their child’s bedside in comfort. Patients are also able to use the sensory room and the teenage chillout room which you can read about on our ‘Projects’ page.
Booster Therapy Centre in the RUH
The Booster Therapy Centre is an outpatient clinic assessing children with disabilities and special needs. We help by supplying specialised equipment such as an eye gaze communication system which gives children, who are unable to speak, the ability to communicate and interact using eye movement. T.I.P also fund seating and standing support aids, as well as the sensory room.
Yeovil Hospital Children's Ward
Yeovil Hospital Children’s Ward has had two major refurbishment projects completed by T.I.P including a new A&E paediatric waiting area and a play area in the children’s ward.
Time is Precious have also raised £10,000 for the family room in the new special care baby unit.
We have a fantastic fundraising team in the Yeovil area and if you would like to help, please contact us.
