Honorary Garda
We grant the wish of the children we support (under our criteria, see below) to become Honorary Gardaí and provide Garda themed distraction toys and children’s events (e.g. Honorary Garda Graduation Day) for our Little Blue Heroes. There is an application process involved to nominate a child to become an Honorary Garda. The steps involved are:
The child's illness must meet one of the serious or life threatening illnesses categories listed below.
Parent(s) / Guardian(s) must consent to have their child nominated.
A supporting letter from the child's medical team, hospital or hospital social worker confirming child’s illness must be provided.
The application form (available below) must be completed in full and submitted for consideration with the supporting letter.
The application is considered by our Family Liaison Committee who will notify the parent or guardian on the outcome of the application.
If the application is approved the Family Liaison Committee will liaise with the relevant local Gardaí, where possible, to arrange the induction of the new Honorary Garda.
Our Beneficiary Criteria
Little Blue Heroes Foundation only considers applications for assistance for families with children (a child as being defined under the Child Care Act 1991) with life-threatening and life-limiting condition(s) that comes under one of the four categorisation set out below:
Category 1
Life-threatening conditions for which curative treatment may be feasible but can fail. Where access to palliative care services may be necessary when treatment fails or during an acute crisis, irrespective of the duration of that threat to life. On reaching long term remission or following successful curative treatment there is no longer a need for palliative care services. Examples: cancer, irreversible organ failures of heart, liver, kidney.
Category 2
Conditions were premature death is inevitable, where there may be long periods of intensive treatment aimed at prolonging life and allowing participation in normal activities. Examples: cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Category 3
Progressive conditions without curative treatment options, where treatment is exclusively palliative and may commonly extend over many years. Examples: Batten disease, mucopolysaccharidoses.
Category 4
Irreversible but non-progressive conditions causing severe disability leading to susceptibility to health complications and likelihood of premature death. Examples: severe cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities such as following brain or spinal cord injury, complex health care needs and a high risk of an unpredictable life-threatening event or episode.