React (Rapid Effective Assistance for Children with potentially Terminal illness) is a UK children’s charity dedicated to providing urgently needed specialist, domestic, and educational equipment to terminally ill children, including those living in Scotland.

This year, we supported React with a £1,000 grant through our Regular Giving programme. In response to the award, a representative from React shared:

“React sends its sincere thanks to the Merchants House of Glasgow for their generous award of £1,000. The grant will be used to assist financially disadvantaged families living in Glasgow who are caring for a terminally ill child and struggling with the travel and subsistence costs associated with lengthy hospital admissions.”

React’s mission is to offer children comfort, dignity, and, where possible, greater independence. The charity provides a wide range of essential items- from specialist wheelchairs, beds, baths, and mobility aids, to vital home care items such as pushchairs and domestic appliances. Support may also include educational tools to meet developmental needs, short breaks through React Holidays at their mobile holiday homes, and assistance with funeral expenses and memorial headstones.

With recent advances in medical science, many children and young people with life-shortening conditions are now living longer. As a result, a growing number are cared for at home, often by families facing considerable emotional and financial strain. Local authorities are increasingly limited in the support they can offer, and many low-income families turn to React to bridge the gap.

Working closely with medical professionals in palliative care, React responds quickly to specific, identified needs. Its broad remit allows the charity to provide support as diverse as the many conditions affecting children across the UK.

Since its founding, React has responded to over 15,000 urgent requests for assistance- offering vital support when families need it most.

Courtesy React website

Would you like to know more about the impact of our charitable work? Explore our other Grants Stories