Latest news with #childrenshospice
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Yorkshire Garden Centres group raises £11k for children's hospice
More than £11,000 has been raised for a children's hospice through a garden centre charity scheme. The Yorkshire Garden Centres group, which comprises Tong, Tingley, Otley, and Bingley Garden Centres, plus Dean's York and Scarborough and the recently acquired Pennine Garden Centre in Huddersfield, raised the total for Martin House Children's Hospice through a digital till donation partnership with fintech charity Pennies. Diane Farrar, group tills and customer services manager, said: "We're delighted that the Pennies initiative has raised so much in such a short space of time, thanks to the incredible generosity of our customers. "Pennies is a great way for people to donate to Martin House in a simple, safe, and sustainable way, and has given our £30,000 fundraising target a huge boost." Pennies works as a digital collection box, allowing customers to add a small donation to their purchase at the till.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Acorns Children's Hospice's PM artwork to plead for more funding
An emotive artwork, addressed to the Prime Minister, made entirely using the handprints of children who are dying or seriously ill has been portrait of Keir Starmer had been made using hundreds of orange handprints of children cared for by Acorns Children's Hospice. The charity, which has hospices in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, said behind it is an urgent call to save "vital funding" that is under threat for hospices across 'Hands for Hope', the artwork was revealed outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday to launch the charity's campaign calling on the government to guarantee long-term funding for children's hospices. Chief executive Trevor Johnson said Acorns took this "emotional step" as it approaches a turning point."There is genuine concern we may have to make heart breaking decisions, which is why we've taken this emotional step. "We need the government to act now so children and families don't worry that the care they deserve is going to be government said in November hospices would get help to cope in the face of rising National Insurance costs and a drop in government December, it said hospices in England would receive £100m of government funding over two years to improve end-of-life funding Acorns fears it may be forced to turn away a seriously ill child for the first time in its 37-year history, Mr Johnson charity received £2.2m from the Children's Hospice Grant but it said in eight months the money will run Johnson added: "One thing is certain without this funding we will have to cut services. "Our message to the Prime Minister and the government is simple it's now in your hands who has the power to ensure that all children's hospices, including Acorns, receive long-term sustainable funding." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Kate breaks silence after pulling out of Ascot to share poignant message about kids with ‘serious health conditions'
PRINCESS Kate has spoken out in celebration of the "life-changing work" of children's hospice staff. The Princess of Wales, 43, pulled out of her only appearance at Royal Ascot on Wednesday as aides balance her return to full time duty after her cancer diagnosis. 6 6 But she returned to work writing a personal message to mark the end of Children's Hospice Week. Kate is Royal Patron of East Anglia Children's Hospices (EACH), and in January this year became the Royal Patron of Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice in South Wales. In a letter shared in social media she wrote: "No parent expects to hear that their child has a serious health condition that could shorten their life. "Sadly, this is the reality faced by thousands of families across the country, leaving them heart-broken, fearful of the future and often desperately isolated. "Being able to access the support of one of the UK's 54 children's hospices means they don't have to face that future alone. "As Patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices and Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice in South Wales, I have the immense privilege of seeing for myself the extraordinary work of our children's hospices. "Lifting spirits through laughter, fun and play, as well as listening, holding, caring and sharing, they support children and families through life, death and beyond. "This Children's Hospice Week, I hope you will join me in celebrating the life-changing work they do and thanking them for the vital care they provide to children and families experiencing the most challenging times." 6 6 This comes after Kate pulled out of her Royal Ascot appearance last Wednesday. She was listed as arriving in the carriage procession with Prince William, however, moments later, the palace revealed that the mother-of-three had to drop out last minute to continue with her recovery. It is understood that Kate was "disappointed" not to go but has "to find the right balance" on returning to full time duty. Since announcing in January she is in remission, the princess has been gradually returning to public duties. Recent days have seen her attend Trooping the Colour and Order of the Garter, as well as making a visit to V&A East Storehouse last week. However, it is understood that Kate is trying to find the balance as she fully returns to public-facing engagements that have featured an element of flexibility since her cancer diagnosis in March 2024. Prince William was spotted putting on a brave face in his wife's absence, as he drank beer and joked with fellow royals. He was seen greeting others in the grandstand and cheering on horses and jockeys during a sunny day two of racing. Other royals in attendance at this year's Ascot include King Charles and Queen Camilla, who were spotted cheering on from the Royal Box, and Sarah Ferguson, alongside her daughter Princess Beatrice. The national Children's Hospice Week is led by children's palliative care charity Together for Short Lives and the event is dedicated to raising awareness of children's hospice services. Nick Carroll, CEO of Together for Short Lives, said about Kate: "Her ongoing support for Children's Hospice Week over many years has helped to raise much-needed awareness of the life-changing work children's hospices do, every day of the year. "Their extraordinary lifeline care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses enables families to make the most of their lives together, whether that's for years, months or only hours." 6 6
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Fragile' girl's life transformed after rare condition caused her to stop eating
A 'fragile' girl's life has been transformed thanks to "caring and loving" staff at a 12, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, has a rare life-limiting muscle wasting condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), which prevents her from House children's hospice came to the family's aid in 2023 after Ellie took to her bed, dropped out of school and expressed suicidal mother Beth said: "They just came in and gave us a chance to heal a bit. Cope a bit. Relax a bit. We were given this 360 care and love from people that were so gentle with us when we were so damaged." The family are sharing their story during Children's Hospice Week, which runs until Sunday, to raise awareness and funds for local parents first noticed their daughter might be unwell when she stopped crawling at nine months testing showed that Ellie had SMA Type 2. The condition is life-limiting, affecting her muscles, swallowing and period after the diagnosis was "absolutely awful", Beth said."I was searching for a cure anywhere I could. We were just desperate – we were like frightened children," she can still use her lower arms and hands to write, but is unable to stand independently or walk as her upper thigh muscles have weakened. "While she does physically struggle, it's Ellie's confidence and sense of identity that's damaged the most," said Beth. "She still very much cries because she can't go on a climbing frame and do things like other children. Her mental health is massively affected." 'Very fragile' In 2023, Ellie took to her bed on and off for about six months. She stopped eating, dropped out of school and told her parents she did not want to live. "It was an incredibly scary time for us and for her."But that was luckily the year that we discovered Julia's House, and things changed massively."Being around other children who are in wheelchairs or know what it's like to have a complex condition has also been phenomenal for Ellie. She has developed some really special friendships because of Julia's House."She added that all of Julia's House nurses, play worker and counsellor helped Ellie through her "very fragile mental health condition". 'Enormous strain on parents' Mike Bartlett, the charity's chief executive, said that Ellie's case proved how important it was to support parents, as well as children."Looking after a very poorly child puts an enormous strain on parenting. Research shows that many parents looking after seriously ill children suffer ill health themselves," he it is becoming more difficult for the charity to provide its services, due to the economic climate, he added."The problem is the costs have gone up, the cost of providing care, staffing, energy bills, inflation all have a pressure on our bottom line and it's getting harder and harder to fundraise," he said.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Peterborough mum discusses hospice care stigma in Asian community
A mother is hoping to challenge negative attitudes towards hospices, especially within the Asian community, by sharing details of her son's healthcare. Zak, who turns two in July, has Galloway-Mowat Syndrome and he and his family have been receiving care and support from East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH).Mum Farzana Kauser was "reluctant" and dad Asif Rehman "sceptical" about receiving its help, but now says "it can become a vitally important part of a family's journey".The family have yet to visit EACH's hospice in Milton, Cambridgeshire, and are instead receiving regular visits from the care team at home in Peterborough. Attitudes towards hospice care can be different in the Asian community, Ms Kauser explained."In India, where my parents are from, births and deaths are supposed to happen at home," she said."That attitude might make people reluctant to accept help from a children's hospice."While hospice care can be in a hospital, "a child's end-of-life care can be provided in a family's home", she added. Ms Kauser wondered if "given the multi-cultural city we live in, their resistance, or reluctance, might be heightened by a possible language barrier, especially if they're the first generation to migrate here from Asia".EACH supports children with life-threatening conditions, and their families, across Cambridgeshire, north Essex, Norfolk and Princess of Wales has been the hospice's royal patron since 2012. 'Creating memories' Zac, who is unable to sit independently and uses a special feeding tube, was just nine months old when he was diagnosed. The disorder also impacts his has three older siblings - Ruwaida, 15, Talha, 11, and Huzaifa, eight."One of the things that impressed me most was the support for our whole family, not just Zak," said Ms suspects more people would use the service if it was "more local... especially as some people might not drive and be able to get to Milton".Ms Kauser is also keen to raise awareness among people of all backgrounds about what hospice care can offer, "because no-one wants to talk about death"."It's not just about death and dying - instead, it can be a happy place where people enjoy spending time, creating memories, experiencing different things and meeting new people," she said. "Before EACH came along, I thought of hospice care in black and white, but now I see it in colour." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
