The WellChild Children’s Nurse programme was designed to provide a service that was not previously available to families of children and young people with long term complex health needs. The programme is now expanding to create a countrywide network of skilled professionals who are improving the lives of sick children and their families by helping to ensure that children with complex needs can leave hospital and return home wherever possible. Our Nurses are vital in the prevention of frequent re-admissions for children and young people, and they work closely with a wide range of other professionals and local services in the community to ensure that families receive the support they need. Each nurse’s role is tailored to the needs of the children and young people in their area. They act as an advocate for families to make sure that children’s care needs are met, and provide advice to parents on other available services. In addition, they assess and monitor the ongoing and future care needs of the child and family, and provide emotional support – especially during times of crisis. During the past 12 months, two new WellChild Children’s Nurses have been welcomed into post in Barrow-in-Furness and Cardiff, and over the coming year we are aiming to recruit two further Nurses to join the team which also covers Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Oxford, Liverpool, Cambridge and Tower Hamlets in London. We plan to extend this network substantially over the next five years which is why we need your help. Each nurse costs £55,000 per year and would be extremely grateful for your support to ensure more children with complex care needs can be cared for at home.