On a personal level, employees within SPACE have a connection with CHAS that goes back to when they were the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland and had a rocking horse as their logo. Since then, the logo has changed (it’s now funky chunky letters, each designed by the children and families in their care, captured in the photo above) and the organisation has rebranded into Children’s Hospices Across Scotland. The connection with SPACE continues, but now on a more professional level.
In early 2019, SPACE won the opportunity to work with CHAS in developing a workplace strategy for their Scottish office and hospice locations. The work involved meeting staff and spending time at the different sites. During visits to the two hospices, SPACE had the opportunity (or should that be honour) to witness first-hand the amazing work the staff and volunteers do, delivering care to children with life-shortening conditions (and support to their families). It would take the hardest of hearts not to be moved by the dedication of CHAS staff and the love shown by all to make things just that little bit more bearable at what is a tremendously difficult time.
One of the key messages taken away from our meetings with staff is that everyone understands and appreciates that they have a part to play in the work of CHAS, and those who are not on the frontline delivering care in hospices (or increasingly, out in the community) play as valuable a role as those who work in more care-focused jobs.
SPACE truly believes that a workplace should be an environment that supports a community of individuals all working with purpose towards a common goal. At CHAS, there is indeed a purpose and a goal, and SPACE is working closely with the charity to help deliver the environments that will allow staff to focus their energy on growing the organisation’s ability to deliver much-needed care and support to a greater number of children and families across the length and breadth of Scotland.
Recent news (https://www.chas.org.uk/news-articles/chas-ardoch-estate, January 2020) that CHAS has been gifted the Ardoch Estate in West Dunbartonshire – great for the organisation and for children and families across Scotland.
If anyone deserves great spaces, it is a truly inspirational organisation like CHAS and the dedicated staff and volunteers who work for them. SPACE is delighted to be working with such an inspirational organisation.
