Since joining Lifelites in January, I have been inspired by the stories of the families and children that we support.
Lifelites has a unique and extraordinary story itself. For over twenty years, we have adapted to the changing needs of our partners, evolving continuously and daring to be different to better support the thousands of children and families we serve.
And yet before I joined Lifelites, I confess, I had never heard of this incredible charity with such a remarkable track record. In addition, as I’ve learned the ropes, I realise that the world of children’s palliative care is much misunderstood. Public perception about this sector is often drawn towards medical care provided to terminally ill children as they approach the last days of their life.
Whilst impossibly sad stories do exist, the vast majority of the children’s palliative care sector is driven by something much more powerful and nuanced – person-centred, life-long supportive care. It’s all-encompassing, wide-ranging care, provided to children and their families over time, with a significant focus on fun, enabling children to be children and creating long-lasting, positive memories.
And so I feel part of my remit (crusade if you’re feeling evangelical about it) as Chief Executive of Lifelites is to shine a new light on children’s palliative care and our unique role empowering children and families through technology.
To do this well, I felt Lifelites needed to look deep within itself to understand our purpose and recalibrate the way we tell our story. Out of this organisational soul-searching, we wanted to forge a compelling vision and crystal clear mission so that anyone we encounter can understand who we are, why we are here and what we do – in an instant.
The words that emerged time and time again were connection and joy, linking back perfectly to what children’s palliative care is really all about. Connection and joy.
Ultimately, we believe every child with a life-limiting condition should be able to engage and interact with the people they love and enjoy the world they live in.
We convert that vision into reality by harnessing the transformative power of assistive technology, empowering children with life-limiting conditions, along with their families, to experience unforgettable moments of connection and joy.
However powerful, these are words, they take time to read and understand. In a frantic world with many competing priorities, not everyone has time.
So the primary mechanism we have to convey these messages quickly and build a strong sense of belonging to our mission is our brand.
Simply put, our brand has to tell the unique story of Lifelites. It has to convey connection and joy.
With a fresh vision, we asked our partners at Thinkology to work with us to realise a new brand that powerfully represents our dynamic, empowering and joyful identity.
It has long been an aspiration of Lifelites to support more children – we know there are 99,000 children in the UK living with life-limiting conditions. We are determined to increase our reach and impact.
What you see today reflects this aspiration, our vision, our mission and our values in an imaginative and compelling way. It reflects the essence of Lifelites. It reflects connection and joy.
In order to realise our vision, we have to raise awareness, change perceptions and generate more income.
We need people to share our story.
We need people to donate.
We need your support.