Children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses have received special “memory boxes” from staff at the Epsom branch of Leeds Building Society.

Families supported by Rainbow Trust will collect items such as photos, letters, drawings, cards and toys in the boxes as keepsakes of their beloved child or sibling.

Christina Cahill, Rainbow Trust’s Surrey Care Team manager, said: “We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation from Leeds Building Society’s Charitable Foundation. We know, from over 30 years of experience, that keepsakes and memory boxes give enormous comfort to families.

“All our Family Support Workers are specifically trained in helping families cope in these devastating circumstances, and creating a box of treasured items can be a very personal and sensitive reminder of their child.”

Charlotte Harding, a customer advisor at Leeds Building Society in Epsom, went to the Rainbow Trust in Leatherhead to present the boxes.

The charity has sites nationwide that give emotional and practical support for families of seriously ill children, from their child’s diagnosis, during treatment and, if needed, through bereavement and beyond.