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REACT

What is REACT?

REACT, standing for Rapid Effective Assistance for Children with potentially Terminal illnesses, is a charity now based in the London Borough of Hounslow which provides an essential service by responding to requests for basic, essential equipment and aid for terminally ill children, that is not available through any local authority funding.


REACT's mission: 

  • To improve the quality of life for terminally ill children living in financially disadvantaged families throughout the UK
  • To provide families with specialist care or equipment that will enhance their lives, following recommendations from medical professionals who have identified specific needs
  • To respond with practical and sensitive support within days, if not hours. When a child’s life is short, an immediate response is vital
  • To support those families who are unlikely to receive the assistance they need from any other source in sufficient time.
  • To provide assistance throughout a child’s lifetime. Many life limiting illnesses are degenerative and a child’s needs may change constantly 
  • To eliminate red tape and bureaucracy, allowing aid to be given quickly and without fuss, keeping administrative costs to an absolute minimum

Who can they help?

React can only help when a child’s illness is considered to shorten a lifespan. The severity of the illness will be taken into account. Each application must be endorsed by a qualified medical or healthcare professional. This may be a doctor, nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, GP, social worker etc.

If in doubt please call React for advice on 020 8940 2575.

What help is offered?

REACT provides practical assistance to families caring for a child with a life-shortening illness. The charity makes awards every day and will respond to requests within days or hours for those deemed most urgent. REACT can provide a broad range of items and will consider any request considered a basic, essential need. If you would like to check whether or not a specific item fits
REACT’s criteria, give them a call on 020 8940 2575 where a Family Liaison Officer will be happy to advise you.

Here are some examples of how REACT can help:

Specialist Equipment
Items not funded by the Local Authority, which could be:
Mobility Equipment – wheelchairs, buggies, hoists, car seats etc…
Specialist Furniture – postural chairs, adjustable beds, hypoallergenic
mattresses etc…
Educational/Developmental - fibre optics, communication and speech aids,
sensory toys, computers, laptops, touch screen tablets etc…
Medical Equipment – monitors, beds, specialist baths, nebulisers, etc…

Homecare Equipment
Household items necessary for a comfortable environment…
Flooring – carpets, laminate, hardwood, tiles and vinyl etc…
Kitchen Appliances – washing machines, fridge freezers, cookers etc…
Furniture –beds, cots, sofas, curtains, storage etc…
Clothing & Bedding – replacing soiled bedding or clothing, etc…

Travel & Subsistence Expenses
To assist with the financial expense during long hospital stays.

Respite Breaks
Week long holiday breaks at one of REACT's holiday homes based at four
seaside locations around the UK.

End of Life Support
Assistance with funeral expenses and memorial headstones.