I’m Hattie Ball and I left The Abbey in the summer of 2025 and am currently taking a year out before going to study Psychology at the University of Bath. During this year I am volunteering for a local children’s charity Rosie’s Rainbow Fund. I started becoming passionate about this charity during my time at The Abbey and have become more heavily involved this year. This Charity is close to my heart as my sister, who is also an Abbey Alumna, faced serious ill health with prolonged hospital stays during her time at the Abbey. Therefore, I understand the necessity of a Children’s Charity like Rosie’s Rainbow, to help meet the holistic needs of the children and their family.
Rosie’s Rainbow Fund was born out of a tragic loss of a child due to a rare disease. The Charity has gone on to positively impact many seriously ill and disabled children as well as their families within the local community. This includes work in hospitals, schools and the community.
Rosie’s Rainbow provides music therapy, which helps transport the children away from the fear and boredom of hospital stays and procedures. They provide this therapy on the children’s ward in 3 local hospitals, one of which being the Royal Berks. As well as providing music therapy in hospitals the charity provides music and movement classes for special needs children throughout the local community. Alongside their music therapy the charity also provides parental support, such as massage and aromatherapy treatments. Sadly, but crucially they also provide bereavement counselling, which is often not provided on the NHS.
Some of you may have seen ‘Rafi’s Road to Recovery’ on DIY SOS in the past few weeks. Rafi and his family are an example of one of the many local families who have been supported by Rosie’s Rainbow Fund over the years.
There is a Charity ball, on the 20th of December 2025, at the Coppid Beech Hotel in Bracknell. The proceeds from this ball helps to support two local charities, one of which being Rosie’s Rainbow.
Tickets are available at here including a three course meal and drinks.
This Charity Ball is an exciting opportunity to help support the valuable work of this Charity. I know that many of you choose to support a charity, especially around Christmas time. I ask that you please consider Rosies Rainbow, a local charity reliant on local donors to be your charity of choice this year. Your support is needed now more than ever, as they didn’t receive children in need funding this year. Any help whether that be donation, fundraising, voluntary or support from an organisation is greatly appreciated.
https://www.rosiesrainbowfund.co.uk
By supporting Rosie’s rainbow fund it will help bring some joy and confidence in others to the families who most need it. Both of which are the core values of the Abbey, and are integral to my ethos due to my time spent at the school.
