Child Referrals

We take between five and eight children with us to Lourdes each Easter, usually offering the opportunity to different youngsters each time. We seek referral from many different people: community doctors and nurses, schools, parishes and Naomi House. Referrals are made informally to our group Doctor who will have an initial conversation with parents of the referred child. If it sounds as though the child would be safe and happy in our care, that we have a vacancy that year for a child with their particular needs and that the parents are interested in learning more, the referral is passed to our Group Leader. The Group Leader and Deputy will then visit appropriate children for a home assessment. If appropriate, the Doctor and Nurse will also make a home visit before a final decision is made about offering a place on the trip. All going well, helpers are then allocated to the child and get to know them and the family before we travel. The Doctor and Nurse will also visit at least once to cover details of medical and care needs and both child and family are invited to two meetings in Southampton before we travel.