Sebastian's Action Trust is a registered charity providing respite holidays and ongoing practical support to seriously-ill children and their families. The children and adolescents they support battle with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

The Trust runs the UK's only purpose-built respite holiday house for seriously-ill children and their families. The house, which is called The Bluebells, opened in July 2011 in the pretty Hampshire village of North Waltham; it gives families the chance to enjoy normal activities, which they often can't participate in at public facilities, as well as the opportunity to enjoy precious time away together, with everything they might possibly need around them.

The creation of The Bluebells was the last wish of nine-year-old Sebastian Gates, shortly before he died of cancer on Christmas Eve 2003. It took the Trust nearly eight years to raise the funds and obtain the planning permission to build The Bluebells, but it is now a house full of laughter, love, noise and fun.

These efforts recently attracted national recognition when the Prime Minister presented Sebastian's Action Trust with a Pride of Britain Special Recognition award, praising the service they offer.

Last year The Bluebells accommodated 116 families for respite breaks and welcomed a further 625 day visitors enabling them to benefit from the facilities.

The Bluebells facility includes two spacious four-bedroom self-catering apartments with a hydrotherapy spa pool complete with hoists and specialist dry suits which enable children on treatment for cancer, who are usually unable to swim, to enjoy time in the pool with their families. There is also a multi-sensory room, games room, home cinema, an art room, a wellbeing therapies treatment suite, a nine-hole mini golf course, an adventure play area and a sensory garden

The Trust also provides ongoing support to families in a number of ways including providing transport to and from medical appointments, wellbeing treatments for stressed and tired carers, psycho-social support through funding time with a clinical psychologist, help at home and bereavement care.

Sebastian's Action Trust provides its services completely free of charge to families 365 days a year. The Trust receives no statutory funding and relies solely on the generosity of individuals, companies, grant making organisations and on its own fundraising initiatives. BWCF has made a grant of £5,000, which will provide for four week-long family respite breaks.