Setup in loving memory of Josh Evans. John and Tracy Evans wish for this fund to carry on his enthusiasm for enjoying life, by helping others with diabetes, specifically children and their families in Somerset.

We are already making a difference to children and families in Somerset, please take a few minutes to read more.

If you like what you see and want to know more or how to get involved then please contact us, we are always open to suggestions, supporters and donations.

“I am extremely proud of how my son has coped with having diabetes, it has been really difficult at times and I feel really pleased that he is using what he learned on this course every day, that it is helping him to finally feel ‘the same’ as his friends – as he matures he will hopefully take on more of the messages, but at the moment it is great that he can make choices like his friends”.

“As a parent, I really valued being able to talk with other parents and young people. The group was so friendly, the content really easy to understand and very relaxed”.

“We have gained a lot from this. My son sometimes feels like a ‘normal person’ now. He has since taken on loads more responsibility for looking after his own diabetes and this course offered a different way of reinforcing some of the things I was trying to teach him as a parent (although he listens to what others are saying more than to me!). As a parent it can be very difficult to step back and allow them more control, but it helped me to do this”.

‘”Making contacts with other families has been great, it is really useful and we help each other. My son has also kept in contact with one of the other people on our course and has met up with them a few times. It is good to know you are not the only one”.

“Talking with other parents is really useful. Having a child with diabetes causes lots of heartache, it’s really hard and can make you feel very isolated – especially if they are very young when they are diagnosed. It has a massive impact on the whole family, it can put a big strain on relationships because it just takes over everything. Talking to others on the course helps to put some perspective on that, even hearing different experiences was really useful and helps you feel you are not the only one”.

Parent of a 12 yr old boy – ‘’ I felt the weekend was an enormous success. My son absolutely loved it and he felt very positive and motivated when he got home. He particularly liked making new friends and has kept in contact with some of them. He thoroughly enjoyed it and said it was good to feel like everyone else and not to feel like the only one.

12 yr old girl – ‘’It was really good because I made friends. We talked about diabetes a bit but not all of the time. It was nice to know that other people have it and I’m not the only one. I enjoyed all of the activities and working together with others. It made me think about having a more solid routine, which I think will make a difference to my diabetes control. I have kept in contact with 2 other girls on Facebook and would DEFINITELY come if another weekend is planned ’’.

Parent of a 14yr old girl – ‘’She really loved it – and talked about nothing else for days! She said it was nice to be able to talk to others about diabetes. My daughter felt she could trust the team and felt ‘normal’. This is the first time she has felt able to go on a trip and be OK because she knew we would look after her. She felt free to be herself and is more confident now. She is trying to do other things / trips too because she has learnt she can manage herself and can have more freedom and take more responsibility. I was good for us as parents to be sure in the knowledge that she would be safe with you’’

13yr old boy whose parents have given me permission to talk about his personal experience – ‘’It was a fantastic weekend. The activities were great fun but the biggest bonus and incredible achievement was doing his own injections for the first time (in 10 yrs of having diabetes) at this weekend. He continues to do his injections and this has given him much more confidence to do things and to stay over with friends. His parents recommend this kind of weekend to everyone, it has made a huge difference to them and for the first time in 15yrs they are able to go away without the children! They particularly mentioned Dr Gupta, our team paediatrician and how brilliant it was that he joined in the weekend and helped Ryan. Unfortunately, it has also had an impact on parents finances, because they promised to buy him a widescreen TV of his own if he did his injections! Ryan remains in contact with some of the boys he made friends with during the weekend on Xbox live and Facebook and something I think is really wonderful is that Ryan is planning to do a sponsored walk with some of his friends next year for Josh’s charity because he wants to give something back to the fund that helped him so much’’.

Feedback “Hi, Ever so grateful to the Josh Evans Trust. My daughter had her first ride on a train with the Santa express. A moment we will never forget. The absolute highlight though was my daughter (7) being able to see other children ‘the same’ as her. She had never seen another Dexcom before. What a lovely way to bring families together. Many thanks, Rebecca and Maggie

Feedback “Hi, Brody says: I love the activity days that the diabetic team put on; I’ve been every year since I was diagnosed in 2022. I’m really sporty but normally the only one checking my levels and topping up my sugar so it’s nice to see everyone else doing it and makes me feel normal. I like meeting other kids with type 1 as otherwise I wouldn’t know anyone.’” Aged 11

Feedback “We would like to express our thanks to the Josh Evans Trust. They have offered our 5 year old Type 1 daughter with fun opportunities to meet other children suffering with the condition. Thanks to the money raised, we enjoyed the Christmas party last year and the gifts were beyond our expectations. Thanks.”

Feedback “We’ve only attended the one Basketball session as Jenson was always too nervous to go to anything and mix with other children with Diabetes. Tbh, I couldn’t face it before either but I’m so glad I took him last year to the Basketball. We both met some lovely people and came away with new friends who actually ‘get it’ and understand the stress, worry and sleepless nights that come with being a T1MUM. It’s worth letting new T1 parents know that if they feel up to going to any gatherings, there’s no pressure to talk to everyone. We’re all at different stages and it takes a while before you feel able to talk to other people without feeling pressurised. Kind regards, Melanie Bryant”

Feedback “Our daughter was diagnosed with Diabetes aged 8 and has struggled at times coming to terms with the condition and feeling different from her friends. The Kilve trip was the first time she had stayed away from us overnight and she was incredibly nervous, but the opportunity to spend three days away at Kilve was a real game changer and taught her so many life lessons and how to look after herself – and she visibly grew in confidence.

We can’t thank the Josh Evans Trust enough for subsidising the trip and making it possible for our daughter and other teenagers to have fun, grow in confidence and learn how to manage their levels under the watchful eye of the amazing staff of the paediatric team. She has been every year for 3 years and each time comes back that more confident and always with stories of the new friends she’s made and fun activities she’s done”

Feedback “The Dodgeball game was so positive. My son was very unsure but once he was there he said he didn’t want to leave! I also got to meet other parents sharing tips and valuable information regarding type one. A problem shared is a problem halved. Thank you. I really enjoyed the Santa Train and the trip to the zoo. It was nice meeting other children with Diabetes. Thank you from William aged 9. Kind regards, Helena”