Essex charity launched by teens helps over 8700 families with children in hospital
They were inspired by their young family member, who was in hospital with Congenital Heart Disease
An Essex charity set up by two teenagers in Jaywick to help families live more comfortably in hospital wards has helped over 8700 families since they launched in 2019.
Sonny's Army offers assistance to families who have seriously ill children in hospital by providing care packages containing essential items the families will need whilst staying in, or nearby, the hospital.
Bobbie-Jean, 14, came up with the idea for Sonny’s Army with her aunt, Destiny, 17, after her younger brother, Sonny-Lee, 5, spent long periods of time in hospital being treated for Congenital Heart Disease.
She noticed that whilst her parents were staying in hospital accommodation to be near Sonny-Lee, they were missing essential items, and realised if her parents were struggling, other families would be too: "Sonny-Lee's hospital was up in Chelsea and Westminster and it's a lot of money to live there for the amount of time that he was there.
"We saw parents and my mum and dad struggling, so me and Destiny, my co-founder, sat down and decided we need to try to help these people...
"So we came up Sonny's Army, which helps families, children and the siblings of children that are in the hospital.
"We help them as best as we can, sending boxes out full of toys, essentials or if they need money for a train to get to the hospital, we will supply them with a voucher."
They’ve now been providing care packages to ill children and their families for four years, and also help them cover small travel expenses, meals and medical equipment the NHS cannot fund.
The charity has continued to grow rapidly, and Bobbie-Jean says they now help lots more people: "We started by just helping one hospital, and now help 12 across the UK.
"This year alone, we've already helped over 1500 families."
It's become so successful, they're needing to find new storage options: "We now need to get a new office area because ours is getting too big for all the stuff we have!"
Bobbie-Jean is really proud to be able to help so many people: "It feels a bit unreal that it's actually happening, but it's also a great feeling because you know you're helping people that really need help."
Bobbie-Jean’s mum, Danell, who’s a trustee of the charity, says she's very proud of her sister, Destiny, and her daughter: "I'm proud of the fact that they took notice of what people need, because the stuff they provide is the stuff a lot of parents, like myself, forget...
"It takes a lot of strain off parents in hospitals because, where we were with Sonny-Lee, in London there's nothing, just fancy clothes shops - was just looking for a Tesco for nappies and wipes and I could not get them!"
All money is fundraised through events, such as a Christmas grotto and Sonny-Lee’s annual Heart Day, alongside donations: "We don't get grants or lottery funding and depend on donations from the public, and our pockets, and it all happens in a trailer in my garden."
Bobbie-Jean and her family have big plans for the Queen’s Jubilee this year, too, as Danell explains: "Working alongside the Jaywick Sands Revival, we're all going to come together and just have a massive street party.
"We're all taking our own little part in it, and the girls have decided that they're going to do a Jubilee Queen Pageant...
“It's all about community spirit."
The charity also has numerous other top-secret plans in the works, but Bobbie-Jean was certain of one thing - they'll all be inclusive: "Sonny's Army is for children that have problems that need help. It doesn't matter if you have a disability or if you're perfectly healthy and just want to join in - you'll be welcome, at any time."