Sebastian's Action Trust

Who we are

We are a registered charity providing specialist respite holidays and practical and emotional support to seriously-ill children and their families.  We walk alongside families of life-limited and seriously-ill children from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.

The charity was formed in 2004 to fulfil the last wish of nine-year-old Sebastian Gates to build a holiday home that would give other children a chance to enjoy precious time with their families.  Our respite holiday house, The Bluebells, opened in July 2011and is now welcoming families with very sick children from all over the country. Although The Bluebells remains at the core of our charitable activity, since 2004 we have developed an outreach service across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey, which is supported by additional specialists in childcare, finance and welfare, wellbeing and bereavement. Ever increasing demand for our services has led us to replicate our model in Berkshire, where we are currently completing a second outreach/respite centre, called The Woodlands.

We are also committed to a programme of practical support, helping families in the community in a variety of different ways; including transportation to and from specialist hospitals, equipment provision, well-being therapies for parents and support for siblings.