We recently installed a playful selection of paintings at Cherry Trees in Surrey.

Cherry Trees is a charity that provides exceptional home-from-home, specialist short-break respite visits for children and young adults aged 0-19 with a range of complex disabilities including learning, physical and sensory impairments.

Caring for a child with a complex disability can be exhausting, isolating and emotionally and physically challenging. The charity provides a meaningful break for families to rest and re-energise. Last year, Cherry Trees provided a lifeline to 75 families across Surrey and the surrounding counties by providing 1,512 sleepovers and 603 tea or day visits. On top of this core care, they ran five parent and staff wellbeing days, and provided small but vital financial grants through their bursary and welfare funds. These additional services ensure these families receive the physical, emotional and financial support they need.

The paintings are proudly on display in the dining room

"Thank you so much, the paintings look absolutely wonderful. Our dining room has been transformed and the paintings have become a conversation starter. We’ve even started giving the mice names! They will be enjoyed by children and staff alike for a long time, thank you."

Paula Rankin, Head of Care at Cherry Trees

The artworks chosen reflect themes of childhood and play, intended to evoke joy and encourage interaction. One piece by Posie Simmons, a writer and illustrator of books for children and adults, depicts an image of a cheese pyramid – a detailed sketch with mice characters. The second artwork is by author and illustrator, Michael Foreman, depicting a mystical flying green dragon.

We are thrilled that these artworks have found a home at Cherry Trees.

Michael Foreman

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