THE death of a child is one of the hardest things to bear.

So why should those precious months or years be overshadowed by the day to day stresses that come with caring for a sick child?

That’s where Rainbow Trust steps in, supporting families of children with life-threatening and terminal illnesses so that their often brief time together can be a treasured memory rather than a painful one.

The charity, based in Bath Road, Old Town, is supporting 20 families in Swindon, from doing the ironing for an overburdened parent to picking up prescriptions, walking the dog and doing arts and crafts with the sick child’s siblings.

“There’s no real boundary,” said Lucy Poole, who joined the charity as a family support worker in January 2009.

“It’s all about finding how you can best serve a family. For one family I will do messy play with the poorly child and their brothers and sisters and for another I’ll collect prescriptions and attend hospital appointments.

For Sue Rowell, Rainbow Trust support worker Jayne Abbott, 50, is an ironing angel.

Jayne pops by Sue’s house once a week to catch up on the weekly ironing, leaving Sue to have more quality time after work with autistic son Jack, five.

Jack, who suffers from rare panaiytopolous syndrome, needs around-the-clock care and when working mum Sue knows the ironing is done, she can devote more attention to her son.

“Jayne is an ironing angel,” said Sue, who lives in Chippenham.

“I’m a working mum and want to remain that way so Jayne gives me one less thing to have to do when I get home. Jack is a mass of energy and doing ironing and caring for him would be a logistical – not to mention a health and safety – nightmare.

“I don’t want pity, I’m proud of Jack – but an extra pair of hands is always appreciated.”

Sometimes it is not physical help a family needs.

Sara Vansanden can go for weeks without hearing from one mum who just calls to chat and get the week’s stresses off her chest.

“When she was first referred to us she said, I don’t need you, I am coping fine – and she was. I don’t know how she did it.

“But there’s nothing wrong with just needing a chat or taking five minutes to yourself if one of us can pop out for that prescription. Bringing us on board isn’t admitting you’re a bad parent, it’s realising that you shouldn’t have to go through it alone.”

And the help does not end with the death of a child.

Lucy, 31, continues to visit parents whose child died earlier this year.

“I think they just expected me to disappear because when a sick child dies all the help the family once had, the specialists they once saw, just fade and their whole lifestyle suddenly changes.

“But we aren’t just there for the child but the family as a whole, so we’d never run out at what is the most difficult time.”